Ekiti 2018: Fayose’s deputy, Olusola Eleka emerges PDP consensus governorship candidate

Deputy Governor of Ekiti State, Prof. Olusola Eleka on Wednesday emerged the consensus candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in the forthcoming coming gubernatorial election scheduled to hold in 2018.

Olusola emerged from the list of strong contenders for the governorship ticket as the “most preferred candidate” at a meeting held by party faithfuls in Ado Ekiti, Ekiti State capital.

TheNewsGuru.com reports that the meeting was attended by serving and former members of the PDP State Working Committee, members of the Ekiti State House of Assembly, chieftains of the party at the 16 local governments and 177 wards, as well as chairmen and members of Boards and Parastatals, among others.

This was revealed in communique issued at the end of the meeting read, “After due consultation, without prejudice to the provisions of the Electoral Act 2010 (as amended), we formally endorse His Excellency, Prof. Kolapo Olusola (the current deputy governor), from Ekiti South Senatorial District, as our preferred aspirant/candidate.”

Olusola, an indigene of Ikere Ekiti, which is the second largest town in Ekiti, was adopted before the commencement of a retreat organised for members to sensitise them ahead of the 2018 election.

Those who signed the communique are Anifowose Mustapha for councillors; Alhaji Amuda Sunmonu for Ward chairmen; Mr. Femi Bamisile for Local Government Party Chairmen; Dapo Olagunju for Association of Local Government Chairmen; Senator Bode Ola for Chairmen of Boards and Parastatals; Dr. Modupe Alade (Secretary to the State Government) for State Executive Council; Speaker Kolawole Oluwawole for EKHA and the State Chairman of the party, Chief Gboyega Oguntuase.

Speaking with journalists after the adoption, Oguntuase said the party organs would abide by the decision taken by the stakeholders in the overall interest of the party and the entire people of Ekiti State.

He, however, said the adoption would not preclude any member of the party who is interested in the governorship ticket from contesting.

He added that open and transparent primary election would be held in accordance with the rules of the party.

Eleka who recently became a professor was an accomplished teacher in the Department of Building, Obafemi Awolowo University, for the over twenty-three (23) years before his sojourn into partisan politics in 2014.

While in the academia, Eleka has successfully supervised two PhD, two M.Phil and nine M.Sc. students all in the field of Building Structures.

He has severally served as External examiner in many universities within the country.

His research interests are mainly in the field of Alternative Building Materials Development for Housing Construction, Construction Technology and Structural Mechanics.

TheNewsGuru.com reports that Fayose has repeatedly assured Ekiti people of picking a popular candidate that will be bold in carrying on with his reform agenda in the state.