National chairman of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Alhaji Adamu Mu’azu has confessed that if it were not President Goodluck Jonathan, Mr. Ayodele Fayose, who won the Saturday governorship election in Ekiti state would not have been the party’s candidate.
The PDP chairman who led members of his National Working Council (NWC) to congratulate President Goodluck Jonathan at the Presidential Villa Abuja over the electoral victory in Ekiti state said that Fayose was chosen with the support of the President.
He explained that the party would not have fielded Fayose as it’s governorship candidate in Ekiti State if it had considered what he called “the Nigerian factor.
“Fayose, ordinarily, if the Nigerian factor comes in, will never have been our candidate, but you and I know that even after he emerged, the sort of groups that came to report to me that I have done the wrong choice.
“And more often, when they are caught red-handed coming to the Villa, Mr. President will insist that I must be there and I will say I have seen the same people. I have explained to them.
“Mr. President will still insist for me to hear, to listen. That at the end of the day, the truth will prevail.
“Because without getting our first 11, which is on very good support and encouragement, we would not have been celebrating today.”
Mu’azu said that the Ekiti State election was conducted in a free, fair and transparent manner and that the result was generally accepted by local and international observers as well as the opposition parties.
According to him, the Ekiti State electoral victory was a clear demonstration of Jonathan’s style of leadership.
This was even as President Jonathan directed the party leadership to work harder to ensure that the party takes over other states under the control of the opposition parties, especially All Progressives Congress (APC)
President Jonathan commended the leadership of the party for the victory in the Ekiti election, even as he asked them not to rest on their oars until they bring states like Lagos, Osun and others under the fold of the party.
“At least, we have seen clearly that Ekiti is now a PDP state. We pray that we will work very hard, sell our ideas, our programmes, manifesto to Nigerians so that they will accept us for what we are.
“We always say that we will not disappoint Nigerians. We believe that we will even do more in other states.
“Let me appreciate Nigerians for their determination and patriotism for this country and to reassure them that the PDP leadership will continue to do its best for this country.”
President Jonathan assured that PDP remains the only party in Nigeria which has not changed in orientation since its formation.
“We are not chameleons. We don’t change. No mutation in PDP. We don’t transform to all kinds of characters and colours and shapes based on circumstances. We are what we are and we will continue to preach what we believe in and do our best for this country.”
President Jonathan assured Nigerians that his administration will continue to find solutions to all the socio-economic challenges facing the country through the pursuit of the ongoing transformation of all sectors of nation’s economy, especially in the area of rail transport, agriculture and education.
He added that his administration is addressing the problem of insecurity being faced by the country even as he made it clear that insurgency would soon be a thing of the past. [myad]

Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar III has made it clear to Nigerian politicians that traditional leaders are not their competitors or enemies.

He spoke today when he received in audience in his palace in Sokoto, the new Emir of Kano, Alhaji Muhammad Sanusi II.

The Sultan, who advised the new Emir of Kano to be fair, just with the fear of God emphasize that traditional leaders were not competing with politicians but are ready to support whoever occupies the position of leadership at a particular time.

“Politicians should listen to us. As Muslim leaders, we support whoever occupies a position whether that of a President, governor or Minister. So, there is need for synergy in order to move the country forward.

“We are partners in progress not competitors and we will not relent in giving the necessary advice to politicians because that is what is expected of us.” [myad]

President Goodluck Jonathan has advised Peter Ayodele Fayose who has just been declared winner of the Saturday governorship election in Ekiti state under the platform of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to be humble and magnanimous in victory.
He also asked him to be committed to forming an administration that will work for the advancement of the interests of all Ekiti people, irrespective of their political affiliations or loyalties.
In a congratulatory message to the governor-elect today, President Jonathan asked Fayose to regard his second chance to serve as Governor of Ekiti State as a sacred mandate from God and the people.
He said that the governor should discharge the gubernatorial responsibility with immense dedication, wisdom and vigour to achieve a much more rapid pace of socio-economic development of the state and for the benefit of its people who resoundingly reaffirmed their trust in his leadership.
He congratulated the governor-elect for what he called “an overwhelming victory in the governorship election.
The President said that as Fayose gets set to assume office in fulfillment of the clearly expressed wish of his people, the federal government will give him all necessary support and assistance.
This is in furtherance “of the present administration’s objective of significantly improving the living conditions of Nigerians in all parts of the country.”
The President wished Fayose continued good health and a successful second tenure as governor of Ekiti State, even as he commended the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), the Security Services and the people of Ekiti State for the successful and peaceful conduct of the elections.
This is “in keeping with the present administration’s avowed commitment to ensuring that elections in all parts of Nigeria are progressively freer, fairer and more credible.” [myad]

It was a sweet win for the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Peter Ayodele Fayose over the incumbent governor, Dr. John Kayode Fayemi of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the governorship election conducted by the Independent National Electoral Commission in the state yesterday (Saturday).

The PDP candidate had earlier yesterday, threw his hands into the air and agreed to accept whatever the result of the yet-to-be concluded election brought. He complained bitterly about the high level of violence and distribution of money by the APC agents to influence the electorate.

The official announcement of the election result today, showed that Ayo Fayose won by polling 203,090 while the incumbent governor Fayemi trailed far behind with 120,433 as the third party, the Labour Party’s Opeyemi Bamidele came a distance third.

HERE ARE THE ELECTION RESULTS

LG                        APC                       LP                          PDP

Efon              3,422                     358                         5,335

Oye               10,176                   512                         11,200

Ilejemeje       3,336                   165                           3,670

Ikere             7,989                    585                             16,197

Ikole               8,804                   1,259                         14,238

Ekiti S/W       6,746                 1,413                           11,038

Ijero               9,348                 1,554                         13,814

Ifelodun         6,834                 3,555                         13,038

Emure           4,332                 1,527                         7,086

Ekiti-East       8,584                 884                            12,498

Moba           7,994                 1,000                             8,878

Gbonyin       8,138                 714                             11,046

Ise                 5,809                 600                             10,136

Ekiti-West     7,860               884                               10,702

Ido-Osi           7,134               1,182                           13,045

Ado-Ekiti       13,927             2,065                           41,169 [myad]