Politics
PACT! Oby Ezekwesili explains how Fela Durotoye emerged as consensus candidate
Former minister of education and activist, Oby Ezekwesili, has given an account of how Fela Durotoye emerged as the consensus candidate for the Presidential Aspirants Coming Together (PACT).
Ezekwesili who was invited to be an observer as well as announced the result of the election in a series of tweets on Friday explained how the voting process took place.
After the emergence of Durotoye, some Twitter users had alleged that the voting process was partial and has been doctored to favour Durotoye over Professor Kingsley Moghalu.
READ ALSO: WE WILL DELIVER A NEW NIGERIA! Fela Durotoye emerges as ANN presidential flag bearer
Some Twitter users had even opined that Durotoye was picked based on his tribe hence sectionalizing Moghalu who is an Igbo man.
The debate has also become a hot topic of conversion on Twitter with many asking questions and airing their opinion.
However, Ezekwesili also clarified some points raised by some Twitter users adding that “we were observers and reporters of their outcome.”
Ezekwesili wrote;
“The PACT – Presidential Aspirants Coming Together had 13 Aspirants at their Opening today. They did inform the Media & audience in the hall, ahead of their voting process, that Yele Sowore and 4 other Aspirants had moved on at different time since they launched their initiative.
“Those 13 that were there today including Kingsley Moghalu and Fela Durotoye made LOFTY STATEMENTS of their collective vision to go together& vote AMONG THEMSELVES, one Consensus Candidate. Before they signed their MOU, -2 – Ahmed Buhari & Aliyu quietly walked away leaving 11.
“The 11 then finalized their MOU & SIGNED, BEFORE VOTING among themselves: Kingsley Moghalu, Thomas-Wilson Ikubese, Fela Durotoye, Sina Fagbenro-Byron, Mathias Baba Tsado, Ayodele Favor Oluwamuyiwa, Victor Ani-Laju, Godstime Sidney Iroabuchi, Clement Jimbo, Elishama Ideh, Felix Nicholas.
“The 11 Presidential Aspirants in the first stage of the Process, Voted for any ONE of their 10 co-Aspirants. 2 voted for Kingsley Moghalu, 2 voted for Fela Durotoye – 2 voted for Mathias Baba Tsado. 1 for Ideh 1 for Iroabuchi 1 for Ikubese 1 for Favor Olumuyiwa 1 for Fagbemi.
“Thus consistent with the Process they agreed among themselves, Kingsley Moghalu – 2 votes, Fela Durotoye – 2 votes & Tsado – 2 votes qualified as the 3 top contenders for the second stage voting. They agreed that the 3 aspirants would recuse themselves for their 8 co-aspirants to Vote.
“The 8 co-aspirants became 7 when Nicholas Felix quietly left but it did not stop the 3 top candidates – Kingsley Moghalu, Fela Durotoye & Tsado from continuing with the Process. So, their 7 remaining Co-Aspirants voted: Durotoye 4 Moghalu 3 & Tsado 0. They all rose & hugged. ✍?
“After their claps and hugs, the now 10 Co-Aspirants of Presidential Aspirants Coming Together – PACT – left for the next floor of venue to brief the media and their guests on the OUTCOME of the Votes they cast among themselves. Only 9 ended up at that Briefing. Moghalu had left.
“I was called on to present the Outcome of the Presidential Aspirants’ Voting Process that they had invited me as a “Supporter of Democratic System in Nigeria” to OBSERVE. I did and left. I subsequently saw the tweets on their PACT from Kingsley Moghalu and wondered.
“As a group of new-type Presidential Aspirants who started and drove their own initiative -PACT-; agreed & signed their MOU and followed through their Process with Participation by those that Voted yesterday; I hope they can all get back together and discuss their disagreements.
“I have no iota of doubt that Citizens have a STRONG HUNGER for an Alternative Political Leadership Class in our country to emerge at all levels of Elective Offices. For all those who believe they are part of that Alternative Leadership Class, Citizens shall be observing.”
Meanwhile, Moghalu, has announced that he’s still in the presidential race, citing the supremacy of each member’s presidential pursuit, as stated in PACT’s MoU.
READ ALSO: PACT! I am pressing ahead with my plan to contest the 2019 presidential election – Kingsley Moghalu
WuzupNaija had reported that Moghalu said,
“The reasons I have pulled out of the PACT arrangement are as follows: 1. The arrangement had unravelled even before the final selection of the consensus candidate…”
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