#EkitiDecides: Enough is Enough Nigeria hosts Televised Debate for Candidates

“Of all the institutions of a democratic society, there’s none as formidable as an awakened and conscious citizenry.” – Shehu Sanni

 

KAYODE FAYEMI-APC

 

AYO FAYOSE-PDP

 

OPEYEMI BAMIDELE-LABOUR PARTY

 

KOLE AJAYI- ACCORD PARTY

 

 

 

 

Ekiti’s governorship election on Saturday June 21, 2014 kicks of the 2014/2015 election season.

Enough is Enough Nigeria (EiE Nigeria), a coalition of young Nigerians promoting good governance and citizen engagement will host a live televised debate for three of the leading candidates on Sunday, June 1, 2014.

This continues EiE’s tradition of hosting youth-focused debates, having co-hosted the first youth-focused presidential debate in the country in 2011. It has since hosted debates in Cross River and Anambra (in partnership with Channels TV).

There are 18 candidates vying for the position of Governor and the four leading candidates were invited to participate in the debate: incumbent governor Kayode Fayemi, of the All Progressives Congress (APC); former governor Ayo Fayose of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP); Opeyemi Bamidele of the Labour Party (LP); and Accord Party flagbearer, Kole Ajayi.

Mr Fayose of PDP declined to participate in the debate.

Candidates are expected to make public their plans for Ekiti youth with special focus on education, security, power supply and employment/enterprise.

The debate will be aired live on EKTV, NTA Ekiti & TVC.

 

SEGUN ONI EMBRACES APC DUMPS PDP

ENGINEER SEGUN ONI

 

GOVERNOR KAYODE FAYEMI

Would this very timely change of allegiance be a major advantage at this point in time? We would soon know. Before now, it was like the incumbent action Governor Dr. Kayode Fayemi & ousted former Governor Segun Oni, who was then with the PDP were sworn enemies. Reason being that, it was Kayode Fayemi's party that threw a spanner in the wheel of the then Governor Oni's wheel of progress. 

After Segun Oni was declared Governor in Ekiti State then, the AC went all the way to remove him as Governor. They succeeded through the Courts after all of 3 years, so the PDP and Segun Oni who couldn't believe what had happened to them then were bitter. Though they tried through the Courts to reverse the judgement, they were unsuccessful all through. 

Now that the incumbent, who has worked remarkably well is seeking for a 2nd term to consolidate on his 1st term, alignments and re-alignments to position very well for a monumental fight (election) come the next few weeks (June 21, 2014) have meant that former enemies are throwing down their weapons, sheathing their swords to embrace peace, in order to fight a common enemy. 

Apparently not liking how his former party (the PDP), which is hell bent on wrestling power away from Fayemi and his party picked their aspirant & even the choice of aspirant (Ayo Fayose), the former Governor Oni has since jumped ship and now is a member of the APC (All Progressives Congress) . 

So would this be bringing the much needed support that would help annihilate the opposition made up of the very formidable Ayo Fayose on one side and the indefatigable Micheal Opeyemi Bamidele on the other side, time will surely tell, if this allegiance is a masterstroke.

KAYODE FAYEMI SLAMS SEGUN ONI AGAIN

 

GOVERNOR KAYODE FAYEMI

SEGUN ONI

So finally the matter would be laid to rest now. The highest court in the country, The Supreme Court of Nigeria, has finally reiterated the victory of the sitting Governor, His Excellency Governor Kayode Fayemi of ACN. And by extension has declared no hanky-panky was involved. 

This Supreme Court case had been the fallout of the dispute over the conduct of the 2007 Governorship election in Ekiti State. Remember Segun Oni's PDP election victory had been nullified by the Court of Appeal in 2009 under the leadership of Justice Salami. Oni had gone to court to protest that there might have been a case of bias, because of alleged cordiality between the head of the Court of Appeal and the leadership of Fayemi's party- The ACN. His appeal was centered on the fact that Justice Ayo Salami should have excused himself from the case, because of his alleged friendship with the Jagaban, which could have been a reason for bias in his ruling then.

The Court of Appeal in 2012 had dismissed Oni's case, saying he should have raised his objections long before judgement was delivered. Now the Supreme Court this morning , Friday, May 31, 2013 has also ruled against Segun Oni and thereby giving Kayode Fayemi the victory. 

So now that the case has finally been rested, Governor Fayemi can now breathe a sigh of relief and hit the ground running to deliver to his people, the much needed dividend of democracy, no more case hanging over his head.