Barely a week after he emerged Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Governors’ Forum Chairman, Ekiti State Governor Ayo Fayose has lost the grip of the party machinery at the state level, leaving his succession plan in jeopardy.
The Federal High Court sitting in Ado-Ekiti on Tuesday sacked the PDP executive loyal to Fayose, which is led by former Commissioner for Information Gboyega Oguntuase and gave a legal recognition to the executive led by Williams Sunday Ajayi.
The Ajayi faction is backed by Senator Buruji Kashamu and is loyal to factional PDP National Chairman Ali Modu Sheriff, which set out the guidelines for the conduct of ward, local government and state congresses at the time the suit was filed.
Justice Taiwo Taiwo gave an order recognising the executive led by Ajayi as valid and authentic to oversee the business of running the PDP in Ekiti State based on evidence before the court.
The judge also ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to recognise the Ajayi-led exco, holding that the electoral agency should only deal with Ajayi and his exco as validly constituted in line with the Electoral Act and the PDP constitution.
