As the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) had fixed June 18, 2022, for the conduct of the Ekiti State governorship election, the Peoples Democratic Party has fixed January 28, 2022, for the party primary.
According to the INEC timetable and schedule of activities for Ekiti State governorship election” dated 10 June 2021 and signed by INEC Secretary, Mrs Rose Oriaran-Anthony, the conduct of the party primaries is between January 4 to January 29, 2022.
The PDP timetable outlined the schedule of activities in the build-up to the Party primary election, starting from the publishing of the Notice of Party Election/ Congresses to the State chapter on September 1, 2021.
The date for the aspirants to obtain the nomination starting from September 13 to September 30, 2021.
“The tenure of the Governor of Ekiti State will expire on the 15th October 2022.
“Pursuant to the provisions of Section 178 (1) and (2) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended) and Section 25 (7) and (8) of the Electoral Act, 2010 (as amended), the earliest date for the election into the office of the Governor, Ekiti State, shall be the 18 May 2022 and the latest date for the Election shall be 17 September 2022.”
“By virtue of the provisions of Section 178 (2) of the Constitution and Section 25 (8) of the Electoral Act, Election into the office of a State Governor shall hold not earlier than 150 days and not later than 30 days before the expiration of the term of office of the last holder of the office.
“The Commission is by virtue of Section 30 (1) of the Electoral Act, expected to issue Notice of the election not later than 90 days before the date of the Election.
“This is in exercise of the powers conferred on INEC by the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1959 (as amended) and the Electoral Act, 2010 (as amended) and of all other powers enabling it in that behalf,” the notice read in parts.
No fewer than 1,951 delegates of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) may likely participate in the governorship primary election.
This medium understands that the number of delegates as of today was made up of 172 statutory and 1,779 elected party officers.
We gathered that the statutory delegates comprised the past governors and Deputy Governors, present and past federal lawmakers, the past principal officers of State Assembly, serving and former members of National Executive Committee, former State Working Committee members, serving and former Board of Trustee (BoT), former LG party chairmen and 2018 gubernatorial candidate and deputy.
Also, elected party officers made up of current of all state executives, all LG executives, five principal officers per ward, three Adhoc delegates per ward, all zonal executives who are in the state, one physically challenged (PCM) per local government, one National delegate per local government.
About ten aspirants would be jostling for the party’s governorship ticket if they obtained the nomination from September 13 to September 30.
They are the current state party chairman and the candidate of the former governor Ayo Fayose, Otunba Bisi Kolawole, former Ekiti State governor, Segun Oni, former deputy governors of the state, Tai Lawal and Kolapo Olusola Eleka, the current National Assembly member, Senator Biodun Olujimi, National Treasure of the party, Wale Aribisala; Former GMD bank, Kayode Adaramodu; a Lagos-based businessman and senatorial aspirant of the party in 2014, Lateef Ajijola; Yinka Akerele and Tosin Ajibare.
