Ekiti election: PDP group chides Mrs Fayemi, Awe over comments •Says ‘they must face reality’

FOLLOWING allegations by Chief Bisi Fayemi, the wife of Ekiti State governor and candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the June 21 election in the state, that the polls were manipulated, a socio- political group in the state, Coalition of Ekiti Youths, has said that “she had better wake up to reality.” The group in a statement made available to newsmen in Ado Ekiti on Saturday, said “it is, however, not surprising because Mrs Fayemi and indeed the APC are only just coming out of their daze after their heavy defeat in the election and are therefore just finding their voices to utter untenable excuses.” The group in the statement signed by its State Coordinator, Mr Wale Ayeni, and Publicity Secretary, Mr Diran Asiko, said it wondered “why the overwhelmimg losers in the election won’t let Ekiti people enjoy the peace that has pervaded the state after the peaceful, free, fair and credible election,” saying “if the claims of Mrs Fayemi and the chairman of APC in the state are anything near credible, Ekiti people would have long been heard.” It said: “Since the election in which Dr Fayemi lost in all the 16 local government areas of the state, the people have heaved a sigh of relief for the ousting of his alien, cruel government. “If the claims of Mrs Fayemi and Chief Awe had any iota of credibility, it is the Ekiti people that would have reacted accordingly. But the people spoke with their votes and would want the rejected party and its chieftains to give them some breathing space while they recuperate from the pains inflicted on them by the out-going government.” According to Ayeni and Asiko, the people of the state were “no longer fooled by propaganda and sweet talk,” saying “rather than persistent threat to expose non- existent fraud in the election, they should make good their threat and go further by going to the tribunal with whatever they may lay their deceitful hands on as evidence.” The group, which described Mrs Fayemi’s and Awe’s claims as “shameless and uncharitable to Ekiti people” said “they mustn’t take the people who voted overwhelmingly for Dr Peter Ayodele Fayose of the PDP as unwary as their continued media lies against the election that has received world acclaim would further tarnish their image among the people.” Mrs. Fayemi had said in a recent statement that the Ekiti election was “manipulated from source” and had contended that in due course, more revelations on how it was allegedly rigged would be made. Awe, in an interview also made similar claims and said more exposure would soon follow.