Ekiti PDP primary: Olujimi steps down for Adeyeye

One of the contenders for the gubernatorial ticket of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Ekiti, Sen. Abiodun Olujimi, has stepped down for Mr Adedayo Adeyeye, a former Minister of Works.

Our correspondent reports that the withdrawal of Olujimi a few minutes before voting commenced at about 2.00pm, was announced by the National Congress Committee of the party led by Gov. Ifeanyi Okowa of Delta.

Olujimi, who represents Ekiti South and is the Senate Deputy Minority Whip, announced her withdrawal shortly before the commencement of voting by the delegates at the Eagle Event Centre, Ado-Ekiti, venue of the exercise.

The senator, whose action elicited a loud applause, said she decided to merge her structure with that of Adeyeye for the progress of the party.

“For the benefit of our party, I offer myself as a sacrificial lamb to make our party great.

“I am collapsing my structure to brighten the chances of Prince Dayo Adeyeye and make sure no single aspirant has undue advantage over others.

“The state governor once said his deputy was his anointed and that nobody could stand against him, it was the two of us that had the courage that came out to challenge him.

“I don’t want a situation whereby a single person will have an undue advantage over others, and that was why I took that decision; we will now wait and see what the result will be, ” Olujimi said

The decision of Olujimi, who was also a former deputy governor between December 2005 and October 2006 to Gov. Ayo Fayose, was viewed by many as a strategy to ensure that the governor’s candidate and his deputy, Prof. Kolapo Olusola-Eleka, does not emerge victorious.