Former governor Ayodele Fayose has stated why his camp accepted defeat at the recently held congress of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the South-West geo-political zone.
The exercise, which took place in Osun State on Monday, Mr Fayose claimed was marred by irregularities which led to the loss of his candidate, Eddy Olafeso, that polled 330 votes.
Mr Olafeso lost to Taofeek Arapaja, who was backed by governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State to emerge the new zonal chairman of the party with 343 votes.
Speaking on Channels Television’s Today Politics on Wednesday, the former governor who accepted defeat despite describing the congress as a scam said he did so in the interest of the party.
“I have conceded, I conceded not because they won. I conceded because the PDP is a bigger picture. I want to say that conceding does not amount to defeat, it is sheer exhibiting leadership,” Fayose said. “Take a look at the result and the characters behind the result before I will tell you the issue. I am on one side alone; I have on the side of Governor Makinde, two former governors – Segun Oni and Olagunsoye Oyinlola. They have on their side seven deputy governors and two speakers and serving senators.
“The results in quotes, Arapaja scored 343. My candidate Eddy Olafeso scored 330, a difference of 13 votes. I’m glad because that is a show of strength. Whether the result is right or wrong, the world can see in the one-man army that has faced them all and without rigging, they lost.
“For me, as to that election, it was a scam but I must agree as a leader of the PDP. I have been working for this party. I am one of the voices that cannot be forgotten in the PDP.
“And I will not sit down here and say because of 13 votes, because of manipulation the party must not move forward,” the former governor added.
