Governor Ayo Fayose of Ekiti State on Wednesday held a mass rally to drum up support for his “continuity agenda” ahead of next year’s governorship election in the state.
The governor mobilized market women, artisans, civil servants, commercial motor cycle riders, taxi drivers, students, and youth groups; and they marched through major streets of Ado-Ekiti, the state capital.
“We are holding this rally to show the opposition that the people of Ekiti are on our side,” he told the crowd of supporters at his campaign office.
“The era of rigging and money bag politics is gone. We have defeated them in June 2014 but they said it was the military that won the election.
“The seat of power in Aso-Rock, will change from APC to PDP in 2019. Today we are celebrating the victory of light over darkness in June 21, 2014. On that day, the power of the people prevails over those of them in power.
“You spoke in one voice and had me elected to turn around your fortunes. Today, you are living witnesses to the difference in our government. ”
He said the people of Ekiti State would vote against the APC in the governorship election come 2018, because of what he described as the poor performance of the party at the centre.
While thanking his supporters for voting him and the PDP into office in all the local councils, Mr. Fayose promised to ensure no worker was owed salary by the end of his tenure.
“The 2018 election in Ekiti is one election that everyone should be interested in. The whole world should monitor events before, during and after the election and let whoever that will win the election win in a free and fair atmosphere,” he said.
“Currently, I am in court to seek redress for the coup-de-tat of 2006 by the. declaration of State of Emergency by the civilian junta of Chief Olusegun Obasanjo.
“It is my belief that the court that granted me the relief that the impeachment was a nullity will equally restore justice by establishing the fact that I deserve another tenure.
“Nevertheless, whether the continuity is by Ayo Fayose or any member of his political family, it is still continuity, which I have asked you to support.”
The governor said the continuity ambition for the 2018 election would not be at the expense of the blood of any Ekiti person.
He also boasted that the APC would be roundly defeated at polls during the alerting, even if the elections were held immediately.
Meanwhile, an APC aspirant, Kola Alabi, defied police advice not to hold his public declaration to run for governor in next year’s election, even though he had earlier been granted permit to do so.
The Police Commissioner, Abdullahi Chaffe, had reportedly persuaded him to shelve his declaration because of Mr. Fayose’s rally to avoid clashes between their supporters.
But Mr. Alabi went ahead with his rally in a street procession, which shut down some parts of Ado-Ekiti and his town, Ikere-Ekiti.
The tension created attracted huge security presence at the rallies to forestall any breach of the peace.
Mr. Alabi told party leaders and supporters that he would not be intimidated in his ambition to become governor in 2018, and to bring about positive change in the state.
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