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How PDP spent $37m in Ekiti guber poll, by Aluko

By Muyiwa Adeyemi (Head South West Bureau), Azimazi Mohmoh Jimoh (Abuja)and Isaac Taiwo (Lagos)
01 February 2016   |   3:31 am
Secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Ekiti State, Temitope Kolawole Aluko, yesterday confessed that he played major role in the 2014 governorship election that brought incumbent governor Ayo Fayose to power...
Fayose

Fayose

•Says he’s principal actor in election rigging

• Aluko not worthy of
response, says Fayose’s aide

Secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Ekiti State, Temitope Kolawole Aluko, yesterday confessed that he played major role in the 2014 governorship election that brought incumbent governor Ayo Fayose to power. He claimed that former President Goodluck Jonathan and his minister of state for Defence, Musliu Obanikoro spent more than $37 million to rig Fayose into office. The bulk of the money, according to him, was delivered in his (Aluko’s) presence to some military officers and other stakeholders in the election.

In an effort to prove his point beyond reasonable doubt, even in a subsequent television debate with Fayose’s media aide, Lere Olayinka, Mr. Aluko claimed he played a major role in what, according to him, was high-level manipulation that characterised the conduct of that election.

Indeed, the altercation was hot. And Channels Television’s Sunday Politics anchor, Seun Okinbaloye, had a hectic time last night trying to contain the mutual bile between the two politicians, who for the greater part of the programme were bent on having each other’s neck, taking on the very personal matters in an effort to discredit their opponent’s argument.

While Aluko argued that Olayinka was defending his master against his conscience, the Ekiti Governor’s aide maintained that the ‘confessions’ coming from Aluko now was in bad faith, simply because he lost the position of Chief of Staff and would change his argument the moment Fayose rewards him with an appointment.

The ex-PDP scribe insisted that he was present in one of the meetings that took place in Ifeanyi Ubah’s office at the NNPC Towers in Abuja. He was to retract this allegation however when Ubah called in from Ghana, where his football club — FC Ifeanyi Ubah — was holding a series of friendly matches, to deny ever having an office at the NNPC Towers or meeting Aluko at the time.

At this point, Aluko had to claim that it was actually Chris Uba, not Ifeanyi Ubah, he was referring to.

Aluko who said he was one of the witnesses that appeared before the Army panel that investigated the role of some officers in that election, claimed that Ekiti was virtually ‎placed under military siege in a operation he said was designed to weaken every opposition.

But Olayinka described Aluko is a new distraction from the All Progressive Congress (APC) in the Ekiti state, who does not deserve response from sane minds.

Olayinka said Aluko was already beclouded by his desperation to seek revenge against Governor Fayose because of the governor’s refusal to make him his Chief of Staff, such that he (Aluko) was not mindful of committing the criminal offence of perjury. He further explained that since election observers from the United States of America (USA) had lauded the military, the Independent National Electoral Commision (INEC) and other stakeholders for the peaceful and fair nature of the Ekiti election.

He wondered why Fayose should worry about the distractions when he had established record of sacking incumbent governors. He also accused Aluko of having been sacked as university teacher, an allegation he (Aluko) vehemently refuted.

Fayose had condemned the army panel’s report on the roles played by some soldiers during the Ekiti, Osun, election‎ and described it as politically motivated.

“‎For all intents and purposes, the report can only be useful to the army and one is not surprised because the panel must do the bidding of those who set it up.”

Stating that the international community had rated Ekiti 2014 election as the best so far in the country, Fayose had urged interested parties to allow peace to reign in the state.
Aluko had, during a press conference in Abuja, yesterday regretted all the roles he played before and during that election because according to him, “the Ekiti Project” which was the major campaign point of the PDP had been jettisoned.

He said as chairman, Security and Intelligence Committee of Fayose campaign organisation then, he had the records and details of the involvement of the military in that election adding that he had already volunteered such details to the army investigating panel.

Aluko who disclosed that he was the coordinator of the swearing-in ceremony of Governor Fayose declared that he later became the principal witness to the army probe panel.‎

He alleged that some $35 million (N4.8 billion) and another $2 million was released by the Presidency for that election.

The former party scribe said that because of the strategy to ensure that Fayose became governor at all costs, he was later made the Chief Returning Officer in that election.

He however, admitted that what informed his decision to speak out was the failure of the governor to keep to his promise of making him, Aluko, the Chief of Staff.

Aluko also accused Fayose of having frustrated his second ambition of being elected into the House‎ of Representatives, a development he said was the last straw that broke the camel’ s back and resulted into his current hostile relationship with the Ekiti governor.

Condemning the former state party scribe for his comments, Fayose’s aide said it was shameful that the opposition APC has refused to accept a scandalous electoral defeat they suffered 19 months ago and wondered whether it was also soldiers that rigged the 2015 Presidential, Senatorial, House of Representatives and State House of Assembly elections that the party lost woefully in Ekiti.

He said; “For Aluko to be taken seriously, he must first have to report himself to the police to be tried for perjury and committed to prison for three years, since what he is now saying is different from what he said under oath at the Election Tribunal being the only witness called by the PDP and Governor Fayose.

If after giving evidence under oath at the tribunal that the election was free, fair and credible and that security agents, including soldiers performed their duties creditably well, saying something else more than one year after is an admittance by
Aluko himself that he is not a stable character. It is also a demonstration of the fact that giving the right offer

Therefore, we won’t bother ourselves, responding to what a political parasite chooses to say because he wouldn’t have said what he is now saying today if he had been made Chief of Staff to Governor Fayose and it is sure that if he is called today, and given the right offer, he will begin to sing another song.”

Earlier in January 2015, a Board of Inquiry set up by the Nigerian Army to investigate petitions and allegations of unprofessional conduct by some officers and soldiers during the 2014 Ekiti and Osun gubernatorial elections submitted its report to the Chief of Army Staff, General Yakubu Buratai.‎

31 Comments

  • Author’s gravatar

    Apparently, Mr Aluko is a scorned politician, but that clearly does not absolve the parties accused of guilt!

    Also, I’m quite suprised Fayose deems someone not worthy of response. Is it the same Ayodele Fayose we know?

    • Author’s gravatar

      Word my brother.Word!!!!!!

    • Author’s gravatar

      Reading at this story, sincerely, no matter how voracious one is, this man deserves no attention. Fayose and his goons will only be playing into his game if they do such thing. It is obvious this silly “shubby” political parasite is as guilty as the ones he’s prodding at, if the allegations are to be taken seriously or for real. Of which, the veracity of his claim is very shallow, too shallow, for he’s coming out after a year to tell us what transpired in an election he ones testified to be fair and worthy of applauds. This is just a cheap follow up by the agents of possible “Fayose impeachment”. They’re just trying their luck here. Conduct the elections five times, that man will still win em blatantly. Like Mr. Lere said, this same party won the whole senatorial and rep seats from d state, were all those rigged also? Fayose shud just make this wounded snake is ADC and let him clue his mouth please

      • Author’s gravatar

        Coming out a year or ten years later does not make his (Aluko) accusations false or unworthy. ( Do you clear a witch that confesses to murder conspiracy even long after the victim is dead?)

        True,Fayose would’ve won regardless of rigging….but maybe not by that margin, ..maybe not all seats.

        Both parties are active players in the degradation of our democracy and indeed Ekiti’s absolute freedom and should dealt with seriously!!

        • Author’s gravatar

          Hundreds of courts, I can assure u one thing. That man is there for this period. Even a re-election in Ekiti still favours him till date, why would such confidence be jettisoned for a tape that has not been deemed evidential to nail him for a year running, or the perjury dare message this man relayed? They didn’t bother take over Osun, they neglected Edo, but Ekiti they rolled their tie with, why? Non of the three elections that was conducted that same period had issue, but this one out of the three is considered to have some nebula. Why? The Atmosphere in Osun showed Rauf winning cos of the stupidity PDP played with her primaries. Same in Edo. Everyone they lost it with their Candidates. But despite the fact that their primaries were stinky rot, non of the hard head candidates were imposed, those guys still won. The court cases that followed in all this three elections saw these candidates winning without problems with the margin or anything whatsoever. Why Ekiti? Even if the man is a mad man we need to see, weigh, and contxt his statements and the reality. Those people rejected APC bluntly wicked parole. I’m not claiming he’s the best for the job, but the atmosphere in that state speaks volume.

  • Author’s gravatar

    AND THE POLICE AND THE SECURITY FORCES, MUST BRING IN GOODLUCK JONATHAN NOW FOR VERY SERIOUS QUESTIONING AND IF THESE ALLEGATIONS ARE FOUND TO BE CREDIBLE AND CORRECT, GOODLUCK JONATHAN MUST BE CHARGED AND IF FOUND QUILTY AFTER VERY THROUGH, VERY FAIR AND VERY VERIFIABLE LEGAL PROCESS, MUST BE SENT TO PRISON FOR THE REST OF HIS LIFE OR FOR A VERY LONG TIME. THIS WILL ACT AS A VERY SEVERE DETERRENT TO FUTURE LEADERS, WHO THINK THAT IMPUNITY IN OFFICE IS AN ACCEPTABLE NORM.

    • Author’s gravatar

      The thing is GEJ would eventually talk & put all these to bed. Then the EFCC & Co. would finally end these drama of theirs.

      • Author’s gravatar

        GOODLUCK JONATHAN AND HIS GOD FORSAKEN ADMINISTRATION WHO RAN NIGERIA AGROUND WITH THEIR VERY MASSIVE, OBSCENE LOOTING AND STEALING. GOODLUCK JONATHAN HAS THE TERMERITY AND THE AUDACITY TO ADD INSULT TO INJURY, WITH HIS VERY DRUNKEN AND INSULTING STATEMENT. GOODLUCK JONATHAN ENJOY YOUR LIBERTY WHILST IT LASTS BECAUSE THE SECURITY FORCES, THE POLICE AND THE EFCC WILL BE COMING FOR YOU VERY SOON TO VOMIT ALL THE LOOTS AND WHAT YOU STOLE FROM WE THE PEOPLE THE MASSES GOODLUCK JONATHAN SHAME ON YOU AND YOUR GANG OF LOOTERS AND THIEVES.

  • Author’s gravatar

    lol false witnesses springing up everyday, what kind of shameless people are all these? They just can’t find anything against Fayose..

  • Author’s gravatar

    Aluko is just another whistle blower, we know their type…

  • Author’s gravatar

    LOL Mr Aluko is only bitter he lost out on appointments lol

  • Author’s gravatar

    this man called aluko is frustrated. so u think you will be applauded for this revelation? but i can assure u that if all these allegations are 4 real, jail terms awaits u

  • Author’s gravatar

    The thing is,Fayose has 9 lives,no matter wat they try doing 2 ruin him,he comes out better

    • Author’s gravatar

      you look like one of fayose’s miserable supporters who sees an idol in this shameful man! As an Ekiti man, I care less about whether or not Dr Aluko’s statement is juiced over but there’s no smoke without fire. Although I am not surprised that most respondents here are from the SE or SS going by your names, or are you one of the fun ladies roaming the streets of Ado Ekiti nowadays?. Sad thing for you is that Fayose himself knows he’s beaten more than he can chew. 9 lives or 20 lives, nemesis is not too far off. and only time will tell..

  • Author’s gravatar

    Mr Aluko is only tryna stay relevant,just like his godfather Obasanjo..PATHETIC

  • Author’s gravatar

    This fella is trying to vent his anger for not being considered for the office of the chief of staff. such a low class fella. mark my words he is already in the APC cadre.

  • Author’s gravatar

    Since work no dey 4 am again,Mr Aluko shud just go and buy dis Immigration application form,e fit get job 4 there lol

  • Author’s gravatar

    A scorned politician is what Mr. Aluko is, shikena!

  • Author’s gravatar

    I am not surprised at all because Aluko was supposed to be made chief of staff to governor Fayose but was turned down after the election in light of his questionable character. If his story is anything worth looking at, as a principal actor he should be arrested. The APC should come out straight and say we want to indict GEJ and stop beating about the bush.

  • Author’s gravatar

    Mr Aluko has jst ruined his reputation wit dis whole thing,its a shame really SMH

  • Author’s gravatar

    They should all be arrested including, Aluko,would he have exposed them if he was chief of staff?

  • Author’s gravatar

    this is the height of the insult b4 now APC promised Nigerians that they will give 5000 niara for all unemployed youths, food for primary schools, they will equal dollar to naira, reduce fuel prices, grate employment opportunities , they also promised grant for all graduates that are unemployed

    we are getting the opposite instead……………..

    they are not even talking about the promised 5000 thousand niara again

    we now have more unmployed than the figure we use to have

    thay are nop morte talking about food for school children aagin

    even the grant they cant even pay and more graduate arre coming out by the day

    if u ask the APC they will say is PDP

    why didnt they tell Nigerian before the election that if we are not able to keep any of promises blame the PDP now that they have seen that they are incompetent , unable to manage the economy,

    lack of experience with modern facilities , etc thya are trying to bring the one man that care so much for this country , an icon , a legend

    world recognised hero down

    i think the APC should think again

  • Author’s gravatar

    Saboteurs like Aluko are the ones that cripple PDP as a party . The people democratic party in their reformation should be careful of people like this, whose aim of been in politics is for personal gain and since he could not get what he wanted has decided to blackmail and to rope fayose and also drag the name of the party in the mud. VINCENT B

  • Author’s gravatar

    What APC fail to understand is that Fayose knows his onions and it won’t be a easy nut to crack.

  • Author’s gravatar

    Dr. Temitope Aluko, i have only one question for you HOW MUCH DID APC PAY YOU for you to sell your pride and dignity as to lower yourself to coming out to saying this nonsense that is coming out of your mouth about a man that is so honored and respected all over the man , a hero of our time, an icon , a legend. like GEJ (jjonathan ) man of the people

  • Author’s gravatar

    After Olusegun Obasanjo , Ibrahim Babangida, Goodluck Jonathan has become the most NEGATIVE LEADERSHIP TRANSFORMER in our generation so far. This really needs all Nigerians, to pray and cooperate with present leadership and see what good they bring out of our contaminated and misruled country. We are all “Waiting to die someday”, so why mess up the wealth and peace of our future generations by STEALING & CORRUPTION. Why did GOD give us HOPELESS leaders in 99% areas of leadership – LGAs, STATE and FEDERAL positions (public/civil and private/corporate organizations or persons) ? ? ?? ?. Only PRAYERS to Almighty GOD can deliver us. OSGG

  • Author’s gravatar

    trying to bring down an icon a world recognized fellow , is a slap on the image of this country the incompetent APc after their promises made to Nigerian some people are still coming out to defend non sence. of what good is a president if he can not cater for the well being or keep even one of his promise to his citizen, he is as good as dead to this country

  • Author’s gravatar

    Aluko is very desperate & desperado don’t get anywhere all they think is how to get rude of others & make way for themself. Aluko is frustrated he needs help.

  • Author’s gravatar

    he should be put to his place, his talk is too much & all are liars, too much of non sence word from his mouth

  • Author’s gravatar

    Aluko to be taken seriously, he must first have to take himself to the police to be tried for perjury and committed to prison for three years & more than. shameless man like him.

  • Author’s gravatar

    You are a drowning man. Your testimony will chop ,off your head. Just go on ranting to please your masters. Just pray there should be no investigation, else you will be surprised how deep you will sink. Ewu ofe mmanu.