Former Ekiti State Governor Ayodele Fayose has alleged that there was over-voting at the Southwest zonal congress of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), held in Osogbo, the Osun State capital, on Monday.

He, however, said his camp decided to overlook the over-voting in the interest of the party.

Amb. Taofeek Arapaja, the candidate backed by Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde, polled 343 votes to defeat Eddy Olafeso, who scored 330 votes to emerge as the National Vice Chairman (Southwest). Olafeso was backed by Fayose.

Fayose, who had said he would accept the outcome of the election in a series of tweets late on Monday night, added: “As I said in my speech at the beginning of the congress that we should win together and we have indeed won together.

“Whatever may be our reservations on the issue of over-voting, we have chosen to look at the larger picture, which is the PDP.

“We must, therefore, use our energy and resources to rebuild the party.

“Arapaja’s 343 and Olafeso’s 330 votes have shown strength on the two sides. This should be explored by the party, going forward.

“I thank the National Working Committee (NWC) for helping to bring this congress behind us.”

But Makinde described the congress as peaceful and orderly.

Speaking about the congress via a post on his Twitter handle, the governor congratulated Arapaja, saying the process of repositioning the party has begun.

“Congratulations to Ambassador Taofeek Arapaja and other officials duly elected today. Our task of repositioning the @OfficialPDPNig begins now. I thank every participant as well as the organising committee of the PDP Southwest Congress for a peaceful and orderly congress,” Makinde tweeted.

Both leaders had promised to accept the result of the Monday election in their speeches shortly before voting commenced.

The Nation