Jane Kayode
Sep 1, 2018 · 4 min read

Fela Durotoye Emerges as the PACT consensus candidate for 2019 elections

News and social media platforms have been trending with news that Mr Fela Durotoye has emerged as the consensus candidate of PACT (Presidential Aspirants Coming Together).

18 Nigerian Presidential aspirants came together to present a united front

Omoyele Sowore and Kingsley Moghalu who were originally part of the group, have expressed that they were no longer part of PACT, however information and videos available in the public domain shows that they were participants of PACT and what it stood for. There are videos showing them saying “we have agreed to work together”.

“I would expect that anyone who wants to run for president of Nigeria would have the integrity to honour his word and commitments” according to one writer

A large number of Nigerians have taken to his twitter handle expressing their displeasure at the decision to proceed with his 2019 campaign after he failed to emerge as the PACT consensus candidate.

Some have said that Kingsley Moghalu has shown a serious lack of integrity and others are questioning his reasons for pulling out after he lost out to Fela Durotoye.

This has led many to believe that perhaps he is part of the some of the old type of Nigerian politicians who have shown themselves as lacking integrity and credibility.

In any case there is a victory in Fela Durotoye’s camp as supporters of his campaign and the PACT process are showering him with congratulatory messages on all his social media handles. “This is a win for us all” according to one writer.

He must now find ways to bring onboard the other aspirants that have allowed him to emerge as the consensus candidate and their supporters do that he can effectively push ahead to win the 2019 elections.

I say congratulations to Mr Fela Durotoye, PACT Consensus Candidate for 2019 elections

According to a press release by PACT “On 30th July 2018, New Breed Presidential Aspirants came together to form PACT, with the aim of synergising efforts and presenting a Consensus Candidate for the 2019 Presidential election .

After series of meetings, we agreed to elect the Consensus Candidate amongst ourselves on 30th August, 2018 and invited Dr Mrs Obiageli Ezekwesili, former Federal Minister of Solid Minerals and then of Education, to witness the process and superintend over the election.

The process began with the signing to a Memorandum of Understanding by all aspirants there present, wherein a Consensus Candidate shall emerge, to be supported by other Presidential aspirants as other aspirants shall not further contest against the Preferred Consensus Candidate.

The two-step election process is as follows;

First all aspirants present in person at the meeting were given a form which contains the names of other aspirants except the name of the voter, from which the voter will vote for a preferred candidate.

This first round of voting produced the following result;

  1. Dr. Thomas-Wilson Ikubese – 1vote
  2. Dr. Mrs Elishama Ideh – 1vote
  3. Fela Durotoye – 2votes
  4. Mathias Baba Tsado – 2votes
  5. Victor Ani-Laju- Nil
  6. Godstime Iroabuchi Sidney – 1vote
  7. Prof Kingsley Moghalu – 2votes
  8. Clement Jimbo – Nil
  9. Dare Fagbemi – 1vote
  10. Ayodele Oluwamuyiwa Favour – 1vote
  11. Dr. Nicolas Felix – Nil
  12. Ahmed Buhari – (Present at the event, did not sign the MOU and absent at voting time)
  13. Awwal Aliyu Abdullahi – (Present at the event, did not sign the MOU and absent at voting time)

This process produced three top candidates with two votes each, i.e

  1. Fela Durotoye -2votes
  2. Kingsley Moghalu – 2votes
  3. Mathias B. Tsado -2votes

These three candidates were then exempted from the second round of voting as agreed by PACT, while the rest 7 Presidential Aspirants voted for them, producing the final result thus;

  1. Fela Durotoye – 4votes
  2. Kingsley Moghalu – 3votes
  3. Mathias Baba Tsado – Nil

Fela Durotoye therefore became PACT’s consensus candidate through this transparent democratic process and was unveiled by us today 30th of August 3018. He was congratulated and hugged by Prof Kingsley Moghalu, the first runner-up and all other Presidential aspirants there present.

We therefore unanimously pledge our support to him as our arrow head in the 2019 Presidential election.

History is made today, as our nation is about to take a breath of fresh air.

We urge fellow Nigerians to embrace this sacrificial effort as the bridge to launch our nation into the long awaited expectation of growth and positive transformation.

A New Nigeria is possible with you as we stand and work together relentlessly, selflessly and courageously

We appreciate you all.

We are stronger together!

In attendance were:

  1. Dr. Thomas-Wilson Ikubese
  2. Dr. Mrs Elishama Ideh
  3. Fela Durotoye
  4. Mathias Baba Tsado
  5. Victor Ani-Laju
  6. Godstime Iroabuchi Sidney
  7. Prof Kingsley Moghalu
  8. Clement Jimbo
  9. Dare Fagbemi
  10. Ayodele Oluwamuyiwa Favour
  11. Dr. Nicolas Felix
  12. Ahmed Buhari
  13. Awwal Aliyu Abdullahi

Long live PACT

Long live Federal Republic of Nigeria.”

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