The governorship candidate of the opposition Peoples Democratic Party in the 2022 gubernatorial election in Ekiti State, Bisi Kolawole, has rejected his appointment as the chairman of the PDP Presidential Campaign Council in the state.
Kolawole hinged his decision on the inclusion of some members of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) in the PDP Presidential Campaign Council.
He made this known via a statement made available to The Star on Sunday.
Kolawole, an ally of the former governor of Ekiti State, Ayodele Fayose, stated that the SDP members included in the PDP campaign council were people who left the main opposition party before the June 18 governorship election in the state, noting that they have not returned to the party.
He said he has not been officially consulted by the leadership of the party on his appointment, adding that he will not be able function in the midst of people who “openly and gladly” worked against his election in the state.
The former gubernatorial candidate added: “As it was done in other states, I was given a template and instructed to come up with list of members of the Presidential Campaign Council and Campaign Management Committee.
“In arriving at the list, I followed the template and consulted relevant stakeholders, most importantly National Assembly candidates whose elections are on the same date as that of the president.
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“Also, in the meeting with the Vice Presidential Candidate of our party, His Excellency, Dr Ifeanyi Okowa, it was agreed that the list was okay and that it should only be moderated by including about three or five names.
“By ignoring that list and including people who are still in the Social Democratic Party (SDP), it is a clear indication that the Presidential Campaign Organization does not respect its own decisions.
“Also, the SDP members included in the Campaign Management Committee are people who left PDP before the governorship election, and have not returned to the party.
“With their inclusion in the Campaign Committee, how will they function when their party, the SDP, is also fielding candidates for National Assembly and the National Assembly elections will hold same day as that of the President?
“Will they be campaigning for the presidential candidate of our party and at the same time be campaigning for the Senatorial and House of Representatives candidates of the SDP?
“While I am not against the party and its presidential candidate having a working arrangements with members of other parties, including the SDP, I am however of the belief that such arrangements should not amount to rewarding people who decamped to other parties to work against the PDP with membership of the party’s campaign committee.
“By doing this, we are only saying that it pays to leave PDP and work for other parties. This to me, will be a sad commentary on party loyalty and discipline.
“In view of the above, I wish to notify you that I will not be able to function as Chairman of the Campaign Council.
“This will however, not affect my commitment as member and a leader of the PDP in Ekiti State,” Kolawole noted.
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