We perfected Ekiti rigging in hotel – Aluko

A former Secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party in Ekiti State, Dr. Tope Aluko, has said that the plot to rig the June 21, 2014 governorship election was perfected inside a hotel seven days before the poll.

Tope Aluko

Aluko alleged that the hotel belonged to a top state government official (name withheld), adding that sensitive materials such as ballot papers and result sheets were delivered to PDP chieftains by the Independent National Electoral Commission at the hotel.

He also claimed that the Governor Ayodele Fayose’s administration had received the refund of the N5.2bn spent on the Ado-Ifaki federal highway by the administration of ex-governor Kayode Fayemi.

The state government has, however, continued to deny receiving the refund.

Speaking on an interview programme on Adaba 88.9 FM, Akure, on Wednesday, Aluko claimed that the electoral materials were delivered through the Akure Airport.

He claimed that INEC ballot papers were forged and result sheets filled by some PDP members, which gave the party an edge long before voters went to the polls.

Aluko explained that the operatives of the Department of State Services led by a female officer stormed the hotel and arrested the PDP members perfecting the rigging but that they were released within three hours, following the intervention of the then President Goodluck Jonathan-led Federal Government.

He disclosed that a lorry conveying some of the electoral materials delivered through the Akure Airport was the one intercepted by soldiers led by the recently retired Brig.-Gen. Aliyu Momoh.

According to him, the materials were later released after the officers received an ‘order from above’.

The former PDP chieftain alleged that the N5.2bn refund had been diverted to the Ado Ekiti flyover project, following an investigation conducted by the Department of State Services, the police and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission.

Aluko said, “Ask him (Fayose) why did the former Commissioner for Works, Kayode Oso, run away? The Commissioner for Finance, Toyin Ojo, told his interrogators about the finances of the state, including the N5.2bn refunded on the Ado-Ifaki Road project carried out by Fayemi.

“You will recall that Fayose had earlier denied receiving the N5.2bn refund but the revelation by Ojo while in custody now made him (Fayose) to divert the money for a flyover construction because Ojo told them that Oso was in a better position to explain the refund collected on road.”

Aluko said the Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Owoseni Ajayi, was liable for his alleged role in an attack on the Ekiti State High Court – to prevent the delivery of a ruling on a perjury case involving Fayose.

Aluko said, “I pity Owoseni Ajayi who is saying that I should be prosecuted because he (Owoseni) was the one who placed a call to Fayose to organise a mob to disrupt the delivery of a ruling by Justice Olusegun Ogunyemi.

“Owoseni told Fayose on the phone that should the judge deliver the ruling on the perjury case, it would go against him (Fayose) and his planned inauguration would be in jeopardy.”

Aluko said he did not fall out with Fayose when he was not made the Chief of Staff, saying he fell out with the governor because he had derailed from delivering the dividends of democracy to the masses.

He said, “Fayose told me that Ekiti people are easy to deceive because by the time you buy them ‘ponmo’ and ‘booli’, you have stolen their hearts’.

It was there that our crisis started, the issue of Chief of Staff was secondary.”

But the Special Assistant to the Governor on Public Communications and New Media, Lere Olayinka, said Aluko should be disregarded.

“Is he an official of the Federal Ministry of Works? Is he an official of the Federal Government? Anybody making such an allegation should come with proof.”

We perfected Ekiti rigging in hotel – Aluko

Ekiti State: Aluko denies reconciling with Governor Fayose

A fresh twist crept into the reconciliation between Governor Ayodele Fayose and a former Secretary of the Ekiti Peoples Democratic Party, Tope Aluko, on Tuesday, when the latter denied reconciling with Fayose.

Fayose vows to lead opposition against APC

This came barely 48 hours after Fayose and Aluko jointly addressed journalists at the VIP section of the Eko Hotel and Suites, Victoria Island, on Sunday.

Last year, Aluko alleged that Fayose, with support from former President Goodluck Jonathan, rigged the governorship election held on June 21, 2014.

Speaking with journalists on Tuesday in Lagos, Aluko, however, alleged that he was under duress when he addressed journalists in company with Fayose.

He added that the event was stage-managed by Fayose and some PDP chieftains to look like a reconciliation.

He said, “I received a call from two senior members of the party. One of them is a serving senator and the other is a former governor. I was told to come to the Eko Hotel to meet with them and I went in company with my wife.

“We were halfway into the discussion, which they tagged as a ‘Peace parley’. It should be noted that no reference was made to the 2014 (Ekiti) governorship election and the aftermath, including my revelation to the public about the way the election was rigged in favour of Ayo Fayose.

“I was shocked to see Governor Fayose walk into the meeting at this point. I won’t want to bore you with the drama and the face-off that ensued between me and Governor Fayose at the meeting.

“It is worthy of note that it was at this point that my wife barged into the meeting to inform me that she noticed the presence of pressmen downstairs, saying, ‘there is a problem’, but Fayose interrupted her and said, ‘Madam, there is no problem’.

Aluko said he stood by all the allegations he had earlier made about former President Goodluck Jonathan assisting Fayose to rig the 2014 Ekiti governorship election with the provision of security operatives and funds.

He also said he played along after sensing that his life might be in danger, but he refused to disclose the source of danger.

Aluko declined to mention the names of the PDP chieftains, whom he said invited him to the hotel.

He added, “My wife insisted and said she overheard them saying that they were called back through an SMS from Governor Fayose, saying ‘come back because T. K. Aluko is around’.

“At that point, I became enraged and decided to leave the place but I noticed Governor Fayose rushing after me downstairs in a Gestapo manner. My wife was already fidgeting and was almost crying, and suddenly, I could not find her around me.

“Immediately, I realised that I needed to obey to Governor Fayose’s instruction of facing the press because of the safety of my family.

“One fact remains clear, at no time did I, Temitope Aluko, refute anything I had earlier said before Nigerians and the whole world about the manipulations that characterised the 2014 governorship election in Ekiti State.

“You will also notice the several counter allegations by Fayose and his media team that none of them has refuted all I have said, rather, the attack has been on the messenger and not the message.”

Apologising to Nigerians for being naïve, Aluko said, “I will like to apologise to all Nigerians that, perhaps, accepting the invitation was a tactical error.

“However, I wouldn’t have accepted to attend the meeting in the first place if I had known that Ayo Fayose would be in attendance. I only chose to attend in order to honour the party leaders’ invitation.

“Finally, I need to emphasise that all that transpired at the Eko Hotel on that fateful day was an organised propaganda to stain my image and malign my integrity.”

But a statement from the Special Assistant to the Ekiti State Governor on Public Communications and New Media, Lere Olayinka, said the state government would not dignify Aluko with a response.

Olayinka also described Aluko as ‘a perjurer and an unstable character, who speaks from both sides of his mouth’.

He said, “As far as we are concerned, the All Progressives Congress in Ekiti State, which would be willing to accommodate even Judas Iscariot or the notorious armed robber, Lawrence Anini, (if he were to be alive), could keep Temitope Aluko in its fold – that is their business.

“We don’t want a Judas in the PDP and anywhere near the government and that has been made clear.”

Ekiti State: Aluko denies reconciling with Governor Fayose

I’ve been vindicated by the u-turn of TKO Aluko – Fayose’s aide

Special Assistant to Ekiti State Governor on Public Communications and New Media, Lere Olayinka has described the yesterday’s meeting in Lagos of the embattled former Secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the State, Mr Temitope Aluko with the Governor, Mr Ayodele Fayose as a vindication of his position that “he (Aluko) can make a 360 degree turnaround and return to the same Governor Fayose that he claimed rigged election because he lacked integrity.”

Fayose vows to lead opposition against APC

Olayinka, who said he was speaking in his personal capacity and not as spokesperson of the governor, added that, “Being the person that faced Aluko on Television interviews where he told all the lies that he told against Governor Fayose and the people of Ekiti State, I am constrained to make my position known on this new development.

“Even though Governor Fayose, being someone with large heart may not be too happy that I am making this statement, but as one of the major dramatis personae in the whole saga, my conscience won’t allow me to just keep silent after all the pains and confusion caused by Aluko.

“I did say on Channels Television that giving the right situation or after Aluko must have concluded his scamming of the APC and its gullible leaders, he will return to Governor Fayose and recant everything that he had said.

“Today, I have been vindicated because Aluko has done just that and I wonder how he will feel when he comes face to face with the people that he has destroyed. I wonder how he will feel when he comes face to face with those fine military officers that he went to Kaduna to lie against and made them to lose their jobs.

“Also, I wonder how those who funded him will be feeling now, having failed to listen when I was consistently saying that they were being duped. I wonder how the Department of State Services (DSS) men who took Aluko’s lies and acted on them by invading the State House of Assembly will feel now that they have integrity problem because of what he (Aluko) made them to do.

“However, I salute my boss, Governor Fayose for once again displaying his statesmanship because only a statesman with a large heart can hold the hands of someone like TKO Aluko after all that he did to pull down his government. “I also thank God for vindicating me by finally exposing the hypocrisy of Aluko to the whole world to see.”

I’ve been vindicated by the u-turn of TKO Aluko – Fayose’s aide

Aluko allegation APC ploy to rubbish Ekiti mandate given to me - Fayose

The Ekiti State Governor, Mr. Ayodele Fayose, has said the allegation by the former Ekiti State Secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party, Tope Aluko, that the military was used to influence the outcome of the June 21, 2014 governorship election in the state, is another ploy by the All Progressives Congress to rubbish the mandate freely given to him by the people of the state.

Fayose

He claimed the such a wild allegation could only come from Aluko, who he refused to appoint as his Chief of Staff “because he could not be entrusted with such a sensitive position.”

Fayose, according to a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Idowu Adelusi, wondered when the opposition would stop licking their wounds when the election conducted about 20 months ago had been adjudged as free and fair and applauded by the election observers and the international community.

Fayose said, “All these steps are being taken by the APC to silence me because of my criticism of obnoxious policies of the President Muhammadu Buhari administration, but I cannot be silenced. If I, Ayo Fayose, remains the last man standing to put Buhari administration on its toes, I will not look back. Strong opposition is an ingredient of a virile democracy. I don’t have any skeleton in my cupboard. If the APC has any concrete evidence against me, it should give it to the EFCC.”

Fayose added that he felt sorry for Aluko because he had allowed those who rented him to do the dirty job to destroy him therefore bringing shame upon himself and his family.

The governor said, “ It is very obvious that those who rented him will keep him at an arms length believing that what he did to me, he will do same to them.

“From Aluko’s ranting, one could see that he wants to poison our waters because he did not get the position he expected in our administration. He complained that he was not made the Chief of Staff, how could somebody with great lust for money and insatiable drive to jump from one camp to the other be trusted with such a sensitive post? I was advised by well-meaning Ekiti people not to trust him with sensitive positions because of his greed.”

Aluko allegation APC ploy to rubbish Ekiti mandate given to me - Fayose

Jonathan gave Fayose $37m to defeat Fayemi

Embattled Secretary of the Ekiti state chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party Dr. Temitope Aluko, has alleged that former President Goodluck Jonathan gave Governor Ayo Fayose of Ekiti State, $37m cash to prosecute the June 21, 2014, governorship election in the state.

Fayemi, Fayose shake hands in public

Aluko said the money was effectively used to defeat the then Governor of the State, Dr. Kayode Fayemi, who was the governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress.

He spoke with reporters in Abuja on Sunday.

Aluko, who said he was part of the team that prosecuted the election and also added that he was the chairman of the Intelligence, security committee  for the campaign.

Beside, he said he handled the waiver Fayose got from the PDP at the national level to enable him qualify to take part in the governorship primary.

To further buttress important roles he played in the emergence of Fayose, Aluko also said he delivered the congresses that produced Fayose and was also the governor’s principal witness at the Election Petition Tribunal.

He said Jonathan initially gave Fayose $2m in March 2014 for the primary election and that this money was collected at the NNPC Towers, Abuja.

Aluko said, “It was about $35m dollars which is about N4.7bn he gave us for the real election and for the primaries, he released 2 million dollars to Fayose.

“I have details for all I am saying and I was present when they brought the money and it was Sen. Musiliu Obanikoro that brought the money, the 35 million dollars which he delivered to Fayose at Spotless Hotel.

“I can name eight people that were there. We were all there because he said he will want us to take delivery so that there will be transparency and accountability.

Jonathan gave Fayose $37m to defeat Fayemi

Aluko cannot be taken seriously - Fayose replies to allegation

Special Assistant to the Ekiti State Governor on Public Communications and New Media, Lere Olayinka has described the expelled former State Secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Mr TKO Aluko as a new distraction from the All Progressive Congress (APC) in Ekiti State, saying he does not deserve response from sane minds.

Fayose vows to lead opposition against APC

Olayinka said Aluko was already beclouded by his desperation to seek revenge against Governor Ayodele Fayose because of the governor’s refusal to make him his Chief of Staff, such that he (Aluko) was not mindful of committing the criminal offence of perjury.

The governor’s aide who said it was shameful that the APC have refused to accept a scandalous electoral defeat they suffered 19 months ago, asked whether it was also soldiers that rigged the 2015 presidential, senatorial, house of representatives and State House of Assembly elections that the party lost woefully in Ekiti.

He said; “For Aluko to be taken seriously, he must first have to report himself to the police to be tried for perjury and committed to prison for three years, since what he is now saying is different from what he said under oath at the Election Tribunal being the only witness called by the PDP and Governor Fayose.

“If after giving evidence under oath at the tribunal that the Election was free, fair and credible and that security agents, including soldiers performed their duties creditably well, saying something else more than one year after is an admittance by Aluko himself that he is not a stable character.

“It is also a demonstration of the fact that giving the right offer tomorrow, the same Aluko can also address the press tomorrow to deny all what he said today. He can even deny his own existence since he can deny what he said under oath just because he was not made Chief of Staff.

“Therefore, we won’t bother ourselves, responding to what a political parasite chooses to say because he wouldn’t have said what he is now saying today if he had been made Chief of Staff to Governor Fayose and it is sure that if he is called today, and given the right offer, he will begin to sing another song.

“Also, the APC bad losers in Ekiti State should know that it will take more than recruiting and paying a disgruntled TKO Aluko to discredit an election adjudged by both local and international observers, including the United States government as free, fair and credible. They will probably need to pay INEC to tell Nigerians that an election it conducted, in which an incumbent governor lost in his own local government was not credible.

“As per his claim that $37 million was given to the governor for the election,

the governor got financial support from various sources as it is usual of anyone contesting election and it is not for us to begin to advertise in the media the level of support the governor received from individuals, corporate organizations or groups.

However, if money belonging to the APC is missing and they suspect that the money was stolen by Dr Goodluck Jonathan to fund Ekiti State governorship election, they can approach the EFCC.”

Aluko cannot be taken seriously - Fayose replies to allegation