By GBENGA ARIYIBI

ADO EKITI — The crisis rocking the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP in Ekiti State over  the composition of the committee to pick a consensus  candidate for the 2014 governorship election took a new twist, yesterday, as group loyal to the former governor, Mr. Ayo Fayose has issued out a seven-day ultimatum to the chairman of the party, Mr. Makanjuola Ogundipe to  reverse himself  or face stiff opposition from the group.

Ogundipe, last week, constituted an 11-member screening committee headed by Justice Edward Ojuolape to pick a consensus candidate for the 2014 governorship election.

He said he derived his power to constitute  the committee from the PDP constitution

Reacting, the former governor of the state, Mr. Fayose kicked against the arrangement, saying most of the committee members are known allies and sympathisers of some of the  gubernatorial aspirants.

According to a  statement jointly signed by the Chairman of Forum of former PDP Chairmen, Chief Diran Adeleye and Secretary, Prince Taelolu Otitoju, in Ado Ekiti, yesterday,  said any consensus arrangement where there are dissenting voices could best be described as  illegality.

The statement noted that anything short of free and fair primary  would be unacceptable, pledging to challenge  such action.

Expressing the position of the group,the forum, which consists of former party chairmen and secretaries, faulted Ogundipe for acceding to the convocation of the screening committee, when he had earlier committed himself to the conduct of  free and fair party primary.

The action of Ogundipe, according to the group, has portrayed him as a leader  that lacks honour.