Fayose, Arise disagree over ward congresses

Police took over the Peoples Democratic Party’s secretariat in Ado Ekiti on Saturday to forestall breakdown of law and order during the ward congresses.
Our correspondent who monitored the congresses observed that they were peaceful except complaints about the compilation of the list of the adhoc delegates.
A former Senate member, Ayo Arise, who spoke with journalists, said the Governor, Ayodele Fayose, “did not allow any Congress to hold here in Ekiti North Senatorial district.
“He had already compiled the list of delegates in favour of my challenger, Hon Duro Faseyi. So , as I am talking to you, the chairmen of all the wards and local governments have been summoned to Ado Ekiti by the Governor to sign the forged lists,” Arise alleged.
But the Acting State Chairman, Mr. Taelolu Otitoju, in an interview with journalists said he was not aware of any rancor in the congresses.
He said the committee from the National Secretariat led by Mr. Abubakar Mukhtar was on the field to monitor the situation.
Fayose also denied doctoring the list of adhoc delegates that emerged in the ward congresses held on Saturday in the state.
He stated this while reacting to the allegation raised by Arise, who had earlier accused of him instructing ward chairmen to prepare a list of loyal members as adhoc delegates for the 177 wards in the state.
Arise had also alleged that the Governor had prepared a list of 26 candidates for the state assembly without recourse to the congress.
But Fayose, who briefed newsmen at his Spotless Hotel in Ado Ekiti on Saturday said he allowed the ward chairmen free hands in the congresses.
He said, “All the ward chairmen and aspirants in each of the local government were allowed to take charge.
“ I did not in any way interfere. All I did was to give them direction as a party leader. I called the aspirants and the Chairmen to ensure that the lists of delegates are authentic, which they did in the full glare of everybody,” Fayose said.