BEING A BRIEF REPORT ABOUT WHY AND HOW THE EKITI ELECTIONS WAS RIGGED SUCCESSFULLY BY APC BY OGUNSINA MICHEAL, A PASSIONATE PDP YOUTH FROM OYO STATE.
It is no longer news that our beloved party has lost the gubernatorial election in Ekiti howbeit questionable circumstances. We have decided to go to court and we hope to get our stolen mandate from the thieves, however, there are some very salient points that we need to take note of as we prepare for Osun elections.
These reasons are very important and highly imperative because they were the exact reasons why we were wounded in Ekiti state.
The reasons are highlighted below.
1. FALLOUT OF IMPORTANT PARTY MEMBERS BECAUSE OF IMPOSITION
Prior to the primary elections, the incumbent governor of Ekiti state, Dr Peter Ayodele Fayose has said It to the ears of anyone who cared to listen that He was throwing His full weight behind his deputy governor. This caused major fallout and we lost some very important party members like Sen Ayo Arise and some other bigwigs.
During the primay elections in which Dr Okowa conducted and Fayose’s deputy governor emerged, it was alleged that some delegates were intimidated into voting for Professor Olusola Eleka(Fayose’s deputy) and as a result of alleged imposition, disrespect to party values and impunity the person who came second in the primary election with over 700 delegates votes dumped our party and swung to the opposition.
Prior to the primary elections, the incumbent governor of Ekiti state, Dr Peter Ayodele Fayose has said It to the ears of anyone who cared to listen that He was throwing His full weight behind his deputy governor. This caused major fallout and we lost some very important party members like Sen Ayo Arise and some other bigwigs.
During the primay elections in which Dr Okowa conducted and Fayose’s deputy governor emerged, it was alleged that some delegates were intimidated into voting for Professor Olusola Eleka(Fayose’s deputy) and as a result of alleged imposition, disrespect to party values and impunity the person who came second in the primary election with over 700 delegates votes dumped our party and swung to the opposition.
Few days before the election, we had lost a sizeable number of our representatives at the house of assembly, they decamped to APC and these are not just members but strategic members and mobilizers and as a result many of the people who worked and fought for our emergence in 2014 are no longer with us and some developed apathy towards the electioneering and politicking process.
2. MEDIA AND GRASSROOTS STRATEGY
The truth of the matter is either we like it or not, the media is shaping the structures of elections in Nigeria and APC has mastered the dynamism of media. Immediately Dr Fayemi won the elections, they began their strategic, conscious, intentional media onslaught against our party and candidate. They camped media guys in a popular hotel in Ado and gave them everything they wanted.
The guys worked and delivered reports to the strategy and mobilization team and two weeks to the elections, the strategists were divided into strategic areas in all the 16 local governments of Ekiti state.
The truth of the matter is either we like it or not, the media is shaping the structures of elections in Nigeria and APC has mastered the dynamism of media. Immediately Dr Fayemi won the elections, they began their strategic, conscious, intentional media onslaught against our party and candidate. They camped media guys in a popular hotel in Ado and gave them everything they wanted.
The guys worked and delivered reports to the strategy and mobilization team and two weeks to the elections, the strategists were divided into strategic areas in all the 16 local governments of Ekiti state.
3. OPENING OF RANKS:
Another reason why we lost was that there are so many infightings within the party at the state level. In the build up to the elections, a lot of ranks were opened, important people took offences and they worked against the party.
Another reason why we lost was that there are so many infightings within the party at the state level. In the build up to the elections, a lot of ranks were opened, important people took offences and they worked against the party.
4. NWC FAILURE:
At a particular point during the election, I saw a news that the NWC including South West zonal executives were not part of Ekiti elections, many if not all of them were not in Ekiti. According to reports, they were meeting Chief Olusegun Obasanjo. The implication of this is that Dr. Fayose was left alone to face this battle; meanwhile no general wins a battle alone.
On Friday evening, Governor Yahaya Bello toured Ekiti state to do door to door campaign especially to Ebira community in Ekiti state.
According to a reliable source, more than 5 APC governors with their national executives were in Ekiti to support Dr Kayode Fayemi.
At a particular point during the election, I saw a news that the NWC including South West zonal executives were not part of Ekiti elections, many if not all of them were not in Ekiti. According to reports, they were meeting Chief Olusegun Obasanjo. The implication of this is that Dr. Fayose was left alone to face this battle; meanwhile no general wins a battle alone.
On Friday evening, Governor Yahaya Bello toured Ekiti state to do door to door campaign especially to Ebira community in Ekiti state.
According to a reliable source, more than 5 APC governors with their national executives were in Ekiti to support Dr Kayode Fayemi.
5. FUNDS
Money played a major role in the Ekiti elections and in some quarters, people voted for the highest bidders. We were not strategic in the distribution of funds and money meant for elections and I have proofs that some of those money were siphoned and converted for personal use.
Money played a major role in the Ekiti elections and in some quarters, people voted for the highest bidders. We were not strategic in the distribution of funds and money meant for elections and I have proofs that some of those money were siphoned and converted for personal use.
6. HATE SPEECHES
Another mistake we all made from the Ekiti elections was that we were more interested in demarketing Fayemi, APC and Buhari and we forgot to promote our own agenda and candidate.
The governor comes on air every night and He tells us to collect the money APC is bringing but vote for PDP. Who does that?
Only few of our campaigns were issue based, the propagandas were too much and unfortunately for us, they(APC) are masters of propagandas and they did it better than us. Not to forget the
Another mistake we all made from the Ekiti elections was that we were more interested in demarketing Fayemi, APC and Buhari and we forgot to promote our own agenda and candidate.
The governor comes on air every night and He tells us to collect the money APC is bringing but vote for PDP. Who does that?
Only few of our campaigns were issue based, the propagandas were too much and unfortunately for us, they(APC) are masters of propagandas and they did it better than us. Not to forget the
unguided words of the governor sometimes.
7. WE WERE TOO RELAXED
We were too carefree and lackadaisical in this election, the PDP I knew was always intentional about elections but it was not like that in Ekiti. We were not aggressive enough, we did not do enough especially the NWC.
There was no drive and the usual PUSH that comes with PDP and elections. The implication of this is that we allowed APC perpetrate the evil acts they have always been known for.
We were too carefree and lackadaisical in this election, the PDP I knew was always intentional about elections but it was not like that in Ekiti. We were not aggressive enough, we did not do enough especially the NWC.
There was no drive and the usual PUSH that comes with PDP and elections. The implication of this is that we allowed APC perpetrate the evil acts they have always been known for.
8. WE GAVE OUT OUR STRONGHOLDS
The truth of the matter is that we were plainly defeated in some of our strongholds and places we should have had landslide victories.
We did not hold firmly to the places where we had strength and that cost us so much.
The truth of the matter is that we were plainly defeated in some of our strongholds and places we should have had landslide victories.
We did not hold firmly to the places where we had strength and that cost us so much.
9.Thuggery and Electoral manipulation
Despite our imperfections, mistakes and obvious errors, people still voted for us but we were robbed and electoral results manipulated.
Despite our imperfections, mistakes and obvious errors, people still voted for us but we were robbed and electoral results manipulated.
GOING FORWARD
Our next place of call now should be Osun state. It is a good thing that the primary has not been done.
We should ensure that there is no imposition and only the popular candidate with goodwill and who has the favor of the people emerge.
We should avoid impunity and compromise consciously
We should be objective, strategic and intentional in our selection of the deputy governor
We should discourage those who might want to leave as a result of party fall out
We should SPEND MONEY ON MEDIA
We should SPEND MONEY ON MEDIA
We should make sure that we have a strong strategy team that will liaise with the contact and mobilization team at all levels
We should create an all inclusive brand of campaign.
We should start on time
We should start on time
We should also seek to orientate the electorate on collecting money on Election Day.
We should bring all our ARSENALS together and put hands on deck
We have to as a matter of urgency create a media team that is sound on INFORMATION CONTROL.
I hereby submit at this junction by saying that it is time for PDP to give the POWER back TO THE PEOPLE.
Thanks for reading.
My name is Ogunsina Oluwaseun Micheal and I can be reached on
08103310748 and oluseun.micheal@gmail.com
08103310748 and oluseun.micheal@gmail.com
We appreciate your Comments. Please Do