ISSUES IN EKITI GOVERNORSHIP ELECTION

The race is essentially between OlusholaEleka and KayodeFayemi, argues

The battle line in the July 14, 2018 governorship polls in Ekiti State has been clearly drawn with the emergence of the standard bearers of the two leading political parties in the state, namely Professor OlusholaEleka of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), and Dr. John KayodeFayemi of the All Progressives Congress (APC). This is without prejudice to the over two dozen candidates who are standing for this election on other smaller and weaker political platforms. For all discernible political observers, this election is basically between two old political foes: the outgoing Governor AyodeleFayose and Dr.Fayemi, who recently resigned from the federal cabinet as Minister of Solid Minerals Development.

Fayemi, as a sitting governor had lost the governorship seat in 2014 to Fayose under very controversial circumstances. However, by stroke of fate, the two political actors are up to each other again, but in a different scenario. Fayose is facing Fayemi by proxy, as his (Fayose`s) protégé, Prof. Eleka, contends with Fayemi. It is, perhaps, important to note that Eleka is the current deputy governor of the state in the outgoing administration of Fayose.

Although it is Eleka that is physically on the ballot for the PDP, the political reality on ground is that this election is basically between Fayose who is seeking a third term through the backdoor and Fayemi, his bitter political adversary, who has expressed a strong determination and iron resolve to retake the reins of power fromFayose and his cohorts in the state.

Fayose knows the implication ofFayemi`s return to power. Given the allegations of massive looting of Ekiti treasury in the last four years, there is palpable fear of dire consequences if Fayemi wins the coveted trophy. This realisation certainly explains the desperation in the Fayose camp to win the election for Eleka at all cost.

A dispassionate analysis of the facts on ground shows that the political circumstances in the state today are far different from what they were in 2014. The odds at the moment are heavily stacked in favour of Fayemi. Unlike in 2014, Fayemi is the candidate of the ruling party at the centre, while Fayose`s anointed candidate is standing on the platform of the rival opposition party. Fayemi, like Fayose did in 2014, is sure to enjoy the incumbency factor that is usually associated with the ruling party at the centre.

There is no doubt that this election is going to be tough and hard, given the desperation of the Fayose`s camp to halt the surging tide of Fayemi at all cost. But this desperation is also firmly matched with a grim determination by the APC and Fayemi to cage Fayose and his stooge. And this desire can be clearly seen in the composition of the strong 78-member National Campaign Committee set up by the APC to lead Fayemi`s campaign in Ekiti State.

The committee which consists of almost all the APC governors and who is who in the party is headed by the Kebbi State Governor, AlhajiAtikuBagudu. This obviously is expected to translate into better planning and funding which lies at the heart of any campaign.

It is also instructive to note that the PDP camp in Ekiti has been enmeshed in major crises of confidence, leading to the gale of defections that has hit the party most recently. Many of the political actors in the PDP who had axes to grind with Fayose have decamped to APC and other parties. They include Prince DayoAdeyeye, a former Minister of State for Works, who is now currently campaigning for Fayemi after he was schemed out of the gubernatorial ticket of the PDP.

There are also the likes of Senator BiodunOlujimi and MrOwoseni, a former Attorney General in the Fayose administration who have deserted Fayose to boost the chances of Fayemi in this election. Amongst those that have left Fayose, included Mr AbiodunAluko, a former deputy governor of the state, who has since moved into the Accord Party to be its standard bearer. The implication is that the PDP is prosecuting the election as a badly depleted force.

In the case of the APC, all the aspirants that contested against Fayemi in the party`s gubernatorial primaries have all united behind him, thereby presenting a common front to confront and defeat a common political enemy. The likes of Senator Ayo Arise, BamideleOpeyemi, Segun Oni, Senator GbengaAluko and BabafemiOjudu have all lined up behind Fayemi. The unity of purpose which has been forged in the APC is providing Fayemi the political momentum that he earnestly requires to make the difference in this election.

Many political observers in the state are of the strong opinion that this election is a very difficult one for Fayose because, majority of the people in Ekiti believe, rightly or wrongly, that Fayose is seeking a third term through Eleka who he solely anointed as the candidate of the PDP.

The popular belief is that Eleka cannot assert himself, given the circumstances that surrounded his emergence. Ekiti people cannot condone a puppet in Government House. They believe that Fayemi is a man of his own convictions who has a proven capacity to provide purposeful leadership and good governance that is anchored on due diligence. Against the background of the contending issues in this election, political pundits are of the firm view that Fayemi is favoured by all the odds to pick the prize.