Plan to hijack Jonathan’s campaign in South West foiled

Ahead of the 2015 general elections, President Goodluck Jonathan has told leaders of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the South West that the Governor-elect of Ekiti State, Mr Ayo Fayose, is key to the party’s success in the zone.

Jonathan stated this in Abuja recently in a meeting with members of the South West Unity Forum of the PDP, led by the former deputy national chairman of the party, Chief Bode George, at the Presidential Villa.

Contrary to media reports that an earlier meeting held at the NICON Luxury Hotel, Abuja, which was presided by George, was to review the sack of the former chairman of the Caretaker Committee of the party in the South West, Chief Ishola Filani, a source close to the meeting revealed that the group met on how to take charge of the campaign structure and funds in the zone ahead of the 2015 elections.

A confidential source told Daily Sun that plans to appoint a director general for the group was turned down by the president, who explained that such move could cause confusion within the party in the zone. It was gathered that when the group was asked the place of the Ekiti State Governor-elect, Fayose, in their plans, they failed to give a reasonable reply.

The source said the hope of the team to hijack and control the party structure was dashed before their eyes and they left the villa with their tails in between their legs. According to the source, the group was told not to open any office in Abuja as planned and where such an office became necessary, it should be located in Ibadan, as the political headquarters of the South West zone.

At the meeting were former Ogun State governor, Otunba Gbenga Daniel and the former Speaker, House of Representatives, Dimeji Bankole, among others.

Our reporter gathered that the convener of the meeting left out some key figures of the party in the zone.

“At the villa, the President met them alongside other leaders of the party, including the Vice President, Namadi sambo, the Chairman, Board of Trustees, Chief Tony Anenih; the National Chairman, Alhaji Adamu Muazu and his deputy, Chief Uche Secondus, among others,” the source said.