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Ekiti Again: Return Senator Ayo Arise, PDP Orders Bankole

Emma Okereh, Abuja

Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Dimeji Bankole has been mandated by his party, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to return Senator Ayo Arise to the Senate. This directive followed the inauguration of the campaign committee for the Ekiti North Senatorial re-run election scheduled for August 15, 2009.

Speaker Bankole, the Chairman of the committee was told by the PDP chairman, Vincent Ogbulafor at the inauguration in Abuja recently, that having lost Senator Femi Kila through a court process, the Party would not want to lose Senator Arise who has been working hard for the Party. While describing the job of the committee as very challenging, the national chairman nonetheless, observed that the PDP has always won such 'wars' and that the premium placed on this election by the party informed the choice of the Speaker to lead the "crusade" as the Deputy Senate President, Senator Ike Ekweremadu was made to lead sometime in Anambra State.

"In the principle of justice and fair play, the members of the National Working Committee (NWC) raised a powerful and sensitive committee so that Senator Arise would be returned to the Senate. Continuing, Ogbulafor said, 'the Party hierarchy believes that Senator Arise, a faithful and hard-working partyman, must be returned in a fair and transparent election". He submitted.

To Hon. Bankole, he said, "We mandate you to return good news to the Party as Senator Ekweremadu did in Anambra, some time ago." In his response, Speaker Bankole thanked his Party for the confidence reposed on him and members of his committee. He stated that he is aware of the characteristics of Ekiti politics even as he promised that Senator Arise would be retuned to the Senate after the re-run election without violence and rancour. Bankole who was short and precise in his remarks, however tasked other stakeholders like the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and the Law enforcement agencies to be alive to their responsibilities.

However, a mild drama ensued between journalists covering the PDP and the security aides to the Speaker of the House of Reps, Dimeji Bankole. The security aides had in their usual zeal to protect their principal, blocked Mr. Jacob Edi of the Sun newspapers from accessing the Speaker, but his protest attracted the attention of the Speaker who stepped in and shook his hands and apologized for the embarrassment meted to him. 'Dont mind them', he said to Edi

 

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