Ekiti State Deputy Governor, Prof. Kolapo Olusola, has emerged as the consensus candidate for the Peoples Democratic Party in the 2018 governorship election.

Olusola emerged from the list of strong contenders for the governorship ticket as the “most preferred candidate” at a meeting held on Wednesday by party bigwigs in Ado Ekiti, Ekiti State capital.

The meeting was attended by serving and former members of the PDP State Working Committee, members of the Ekiti State House of Assembly, chieftains of the party at the 16 local governments and 177 wards, as well as Chairmen and members of Boards and Parastatals among others.

Olusola, an indigene of Ikere Ekiti which is the second largest town in Ekiti, was adopted before the commencement of a retreat organised for members to sensitise them ahead of the 2018 election.

The adoption of the deputy governor, who is a professor of Building Technology from the Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Osun State, was the major decision reached at the party’s stakeholders meeting.

The communique issued at the end of the meeting read, “After due consultation, without prejudice to the provisions of the Electoral Act 2010 (as amended), we formally endorse His Excellency, Prof Kolapo Olusola (the current deputy governor), from Ekiti South Senatorial District, as our preferred aspirant/candidate.”

Those who signed the communique are Anifowose Mustapha for Councillors, Alhaji Amuda Sunmonu for Ward Chairmen; Mr Femi Bamisile for Local Government Party Chairmen; Dapo Olagunju for Association of Local Government Chairmen, Senator Bode Ola for Chairmen of Boards and Parastatals, Dr Modupe Alade (Secretary to the State Government) for State Executive Council, Speaker Kolawole Oluwawole for EKHA and the State Chairman of the party, Chief Gboyega Oguntuase.

Speaking with journalists after the adoption, Oguntuase said the party organs would abide by the decision taken by the stakeholders in the overall interest of the party and the entire people of Ekiti State.

He, however, said that the adoption would not preclude any member of the party that was interested in the governorship ticket from contesting.