From: WOLE BALOGUN, Ado-Ekiti

As the race to determine who replaces Governor Ayodele Fayose in Ekiti State hots up, not fewer than 55 aspirants are already jostling for the plum job.

The governorship aspirants cut acrosss the two major political parties in the state, Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and All Progressives Congress (APC).

15 of the aspirants have emerged on the platform of the PDP while the remaining 40 are coming on the platform of the APC.

The Daily Sun checks revealed that the PDP aspirants who include incumbent Deputy Governor, Dr. Olusola Olubunmi Kolapo, ex-Deputy Governors, Sikiru Lawal, National Secretary of the Alhaji Ahmed Makarfi led Natonal Caretaker Committee of PDP, and ex-Minister of state for works, Prince Dayo Adeyeye, former Deputy Governor and  Senator Biodun Olujimi, Mr.  Bisi Omoyeni, Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice in the state, Mr. Owoseni Ajayi and Abiodun Aluko, among others.

Related News

They are said to be already seeking the support of party members and reaching out to interest groups and trade unions to get their support to clinch the part ticket ahead of 2018.

Aspirants from the All Progressives Congress (APC) who include Adebayo Oririe, Opeyemi Bamidele, Bimbo Daramola, Hon. Bamidele Faparusi, Sen. Gbenga Aluko, Sen. Babafemi Ojudu, Sen. Ayo Arise, Engr. Segun Oni, and Opeyemi Bamidele, among others.

It was further that gathered that each of the PDP aspirants who considered themselves as annointed candidates of governor Fayose are riding on the shoulder of the governor in order to leverage on his wide acceptance by the people to win the party ticket and eventually get the governor’s job.

However, governor Fayose, whose tenure expires October 15, 2018, has promised to ensure that only a consensus candidate emerges at the primary of the party, saying that he would not impose any candidate on the state.

Said he, “Although, some aspirants have already indicated their interest in the race, but as a leader of the party and governor, I will support a system that  would provide a consensus candidate among the aspirants. This we will do by allowing a level playing ground where all aspirants would be put to a test of their popularity, acceptance and ‎influence on the people as the people would choose in a primary, the candidate they want for the election, he said.