EKITI GROUP BLAMES POLICE MINISTER FOR PDP LOSS IN REPS RERUN POLL
A Political Group in Ekiti State, The Ekiti Patriots (TEP) has questioned the loyalty of the Minister of Police Affairs, Navy Captain Caleb Olubolade (rtd) to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), saying; “The minister should be held responsible for the party's loss in the last Saturday House of Representatives rerun election.”
TEP said in a statement signed by its Convener, Comrade Ebenezer Olaleye that the PDP had at least 60 per cent chance of winning the election, but “the minister bungled the opportunity owing to reasons best known to him.”
The group said signs that Olubolade was not committed to the PDP winning the election had emerged even before the election because “a committed party leader who desired victory for his party in an election holding in his own constituency won't stay away until less than 48 hours to the election.”
“From our assessment before and during the election, it was clear that it was an election the PDP ought to have won.
“Ekiti people were already tired of the Action Congress of Nigeria
(ACN) and were obviously willing to vote the PDP, but there was no enough motivation on the part of the PDP.
“Even most PDP leaders were not aware of any arrangement for the election until the Election Day as the minister, who supposed to giving directions did not make himself available until Friday evening.
“Most importantly, information available before the election day was that the ACN was going to use thugs and state government machineries to rig the election, but nothing in terms of security was provided.
Instead, the ACN people were allowed the freedom to destroy votes and use thugs to chase voters away in towns like Erijiyan, Ikogosi and Ipole.
“Even when the minister heard that as against the agreement that no government official, including Governor Kayode Fayemi should move around during the election, the governor was moving round the three local government areas with a convoy of close to 30 vehicles, all that he (Olubolade) could do was to prepare pounded yam for the governor when he got to Ipoti, his hometown!
“How can a minister be busy eating pounded yam with leader of opposition party when members of his own party were on the field facing election battle? Little wonder, he only managed to win his polling unit with 'four votes.'
“Therefore, we are of the opinion that the loyalty of Capt. Olubolade to the PDP is doubtful and the National Working Committee of the party should endeavour to look into his alleged accord with Governor Fayemi and the ACN.”