Accord Speaks On Candidate Stepping Down For PDP In Ekiti Gov Race

The Ekiti State chapter of the Accord Party (A) has dismissed claims that its governorship candidate, Opeyemi Falegan, has withdrawn from Saturday’s governorship election in favour of the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Wole Oluyede.

NEWSNGR reports that the party described the claim as false and urged members of the public to disregard it.

Speaking with Premium Times on Thursday, the state chairman of the party, Adeniji Philip, insisted that Falegan remained in the race and was fully prepared for the election.

Philip said reports suggesting that the Accord candidate had abandoned his ambition to support the PDP candidate were unfounded.

“It’s information from the blues. It is not true and should be disregarded. We are still with our candidate. He has not stepped down for anybody and is ready for the election,” Philip said.

The clarification followed a viral Facebook video by Isaac Fayose, younger brother of former Ekiti State Governor, Ayodele Fayose, in which he alleged that Falegan had withdrawn from the contest in favour of Oluyede.

PDP Acknowledges Support

Meanwhile, the Oluyede Campaign Organisation confirmed it had received support from some leaders of the Accord Party ahead of Saturday’s governorship election.

However, the campaign clarified that Falegan had not formally endorsed the PDP candidate.

The spokesperson for the campaign, Idowu Adelusi, said the deputy governorship candidate of Accord, Bayo Omoniyi, alongside other party leaders, had declared support for Oluyede.

According to him, the declaration took place at the PDP candidate’s residence in Ikere-Ekiti.

“Although the Accord governorship candidate himself has not formally declared support for our candidate, his running mate and other leaders of the party have joined us,” Adelusi said.

Adelusi expressed optimism that the growing support from members of other political parties would strengthen the PDP’s chances at the poll.

“With this development, we are surely going to win the election on Saturday because other parties have also declared for us,” he said.

He identified the other parties backing the PDP candidate as the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP), the National Democratic Congress (NDC) and the Young Progressives Party (YPP).