How Police Minister's forged delegate lists disrupt Ekiti PDP Congress

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) State congress in Ekiti State was marred today with allegation of forgery of delegates list for two local councils in the State.

Delegates were already being accredited when it was discovered that the deligates lists for Ekiti South West and Emure Local Governments presented by the National Congress Committee sent from Abuja to conduct the elections were different from the ones sent by the State Transition, Reconciliation and Congress Committee (TRCC)

Tension rose, with the Minister of Police Affairs, Navy Captain Caleb Olubolade (rtd) accused openly of being the brain behind the forged lists.

It however took the prompt intervention of the Chairman of the National Congress Committee, Alhaji Ganiyu Olododo and the TRCC Chairman, Hon Tunde Odusina for frayed nerves to be calm before the Congress was postponed till tomorrow.

However, before the issue of the alleged forged delegates lists came to the fore, efforts had been made by former governor, Chief Segun Oni, former deputy governor, Mrs Biodun Olujimi, former acting governor, Hon. Tunji Odeyemi, Mr. Yinka Akerele and other leaders of the party to accommodate the request of the Police Minister to nominate the party secretary.

The Police Minister, who was initially believed to be working in agreement for former governor Ayodele Fayose was said to have vowed use his powers to deal with Fayose.

The failed agreement with Fayose was said to have made the minister called Oni in the night of yesterday, requesting for the post of secretary to the party.

Olubolade's candidate, Mr. Jide Ogundipe, who is also from Ijero Local Government, the minister's local government of origin was adopted and harmonised into the lists of candidates supported by Oni, Akerele, Olujimi, Odeyemi and other notable leaders of the party.

The agreement, which altered the zoning fomular also saw the prrferred candidate for the post of secretary from Ado Local Government, Mr.

Femi Bamisile agreeing to step down for the ministers candidate, Mr Ogundipe.

The arrangement would have also produced former chairman of Ado Local Government, Hon Tosin Aluko as the State Woman Leader.

However, at a point it was becoming certain that the harmonised list will only be read and adopted by the delegates, the delegates were asked to be accredited, in readiness for election.

It was in the process of accreditation that it was discovered that the delegates lists for the two local councils had been doctored.

Speaking angrily at the venue, former Secretary to the State Government, who also from Ekiti South West Local Government, Ambassador Dare Bejide described the list brought from Abuja as fraudulent, accusing Olubolade and one Dele Okeya of being the brains behind it.

Bejide, who said the original list sent to Abuja by the Odusina-led TRCC must be used for the congress it was criminal for anyone to use his influence in Abuja to include people that were not elected at the wards as delegates.

Meanwhile, source revealed to us that members of the Congress Committee from Abuja left the hotel accommodation booked for them at Yemraf Hotel, Ado-Ekiti by the TRCC and moved to Olubolade's house at Ipoti-Ekiti.

Also, source revealed that arrangement have been concluded to prevent notable PDP members that are opposed to the emergence of Olubolade's candidates from taking all the party positions from entering the congress venue tomorrow.

"Olubolade has vowed that he will not allowed the congress to hold, and that he will just announce list of his candidates and make the people from Abuja to endorse them," our source said.