We profile the two major candidates battling it out for the governorship throne in Ekiti State.
On Saturday, July 14, 2018, Ekiti State will choose a new governor to succeed Governor Ayodele Fayose of the PDP who was inaugurated governor on October 16, 2014.
The battle for Ekiti government house is a straight one between Dr. Kayode Fayemi of the APC and Prof Kolapo Olusola Eleka of the PDP.
How well do you know both candidates? Well, here’s that profile you’ve been waiting for.
Kayode Fayemi
Kayode Fayemi, APC flag-bearer for the Ekiti governorship electionFull name: John Kayode Fayemi
Political Party: APC
Place of birth: Isan-Ekiti, Oye Local Government Area, Ekiti State.
Age: 53
Education/Degrees: Christ’s School Ado Ekiti (1975-1980), Degrees in History, Politics and International Relations from University of Lagos, Obafemi Awolowo University Ile Ife; Doctorate in War Studies from King’s College, University of London, England, specializing in civil-military relations.
Work Experience: Former Director, Centre for Democracy & Development, a research and training institution dedicated to the study and promotion of democratic development. Lecturer, journalist, researcher and Strategy Development adviser in Nigeria and the United Kingdom.
Strategy Development Adviser at London’s City Challenge; research fellow at the African Research & Information Bureau in London, UK.
Reporter with The Guardian and City Tempo, editor of the political monthly, Nigeria-Now, management consultant at Development and Management Consultants and lecturer at the Police College in Sokoto, Nigeria.
Fayemi embarked on exile during the military era and was in charge of managing opposition radio stations– Radio Freedom, Radio Democracy International and Radio Kudirat.
Political Career: After 3 years of contesting results in court, finally gets his governorship mandate through the appeal court on October 15, 2010.
Serves as Ekiti governor until he loses re-election battle to former Ekiti Governor Fayose on June 21, 2014.
Named as Buhari’s minister of Solid Minerals on November 11, 2015.
Kolapo Eleka
Prof Olusola Eleka, PDP candidate for the Ekiti governorship electionFull name: Kolapo Olusola Eleka.
Political Party: PDP.
Place of birth: Born to the family of Elder and Deaconess Olusola Ojo Eleka of Eleka’s compound in Ikere-Ekiti.
Age: 49
Education: St. Matthew’s Primary School, Ikere-Ekiti (1972-1978) Annunciation Secondary School, Ikere-Ekiti (1978-1983), Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile Ife (1984-1989).
Degrees: Bachelor of Science in Building, Master’s Degree in Construction Technology from University of Lagos, PhD. in Building Structures from Obafemi Awolowo University in 2005.
Work Experience: Graduate Assistant (1990), Associate Professor (2009)
Political career: Deputy Governor to Ekiti State Governor Ayodele Fayose (2014-2018).
