Lere Olayinka, Special Assistant on Public Communications and New Media, to Ekiti State Governor, Ayodele Fayose, has reiterated that his principal will dump the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), if Supreme Court rules that Ali Modu Sheriff is the authentic chairman of the party.
He also stated that the outcome of the governorship elections in Edo and Ondo states were lessons learned and enough warning to work hard to forestall defeat in future elections.
Olayinka spoke in reaction to reports that Fayose had removed the name and logo of the party from his campaign office situated in Ado-Ekiti, Ekiti state capital.
DAILY POST on Wednesday, reported that the aide said Fayose has the right to channel his own political course.
“The first thing is: the governor is one person among every other in the party. Don’t forget that we have elections in 2018. Most of these others don’t have elections till 2019.
“You should also have a mind what happened in Ondo and Edo States. A yoruba proverb says when someone falls in a pit, others behind who see the incident learn.
“We don’t have much time; we won’t wait and allow them mess us up like Ondo and Edo cases where PDP lost and Sheriff’s camp was jubilating. These people are too evil and don’t mean well for the party.
“You are also aware of what happened in Delta, the House of Assembly bye election. Sheriff’s people brought someone the governor didn’t know. The governor had to move his candidate to Accord Party and Accord won that election.”
“So we are not going to wait for them to mess up. There are other parties that we can use in Ekiti. We will decide on one.
“Even without being a lawyer, you know that the highest decision-making body in a political party is the convention; it can even decide to collapse the party.
“Last year, the convention in Port-Harcout decided that this is what will happen and someone is telling us otherwise.
“Our major concern now is Ekiti. What will happen at national elections in 2019 is for all Nigerians to decide. But the one that we can determine on our own is Ekiti, so we will take our chances.
“God forbid, if Supreme Court says Sheriff is the national chairman, all of us will say bye bye to the PDP. That is the position.”
Asked if Fayose was considering joining the APC, Olayinka said “when we get to the bridge we will cross it. When we get to that level, we will know where we are going.”
Recall that a Federal High Court had declared Ali Modu Sheriff as PDP national chairman.
The Appeal Court later affirmed the ruling.
In reaction, the faction led by Makarfi approached the Supreme Court to give a final decision on the tussle.
The apex court has fixed May 25 for hearing on the crisis.