Chief Segun Oni, the former governor of Ekiti state, has joined the Social Democratic Party (SDP) to run in the state’s governorship election on June 18.
Oni, who served as governor from 2007 to 2010, was beaten in the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) governorship primary on January 26 by Bisi Kolawole, the party’s previous chairman, but then abandoned the party over claimed election malpractice and irregularities during the primary.
Oni, speaking on a private radio station in Ado-Ekiti on Wednesday, announced that the SDP’s national leadership has completed the requisite paperwork for him to be the party’s candidate and running mate with the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
He stated that his decision to join the SDP was based on public demand for him to run as a third force in the June 18 election, and that disgruntled politicians from the two leading political parties are supporting him in the new political party.
Four aggrieved governorship aspirants in the All Progressives Congress (APC), members of a factional group in the Ekiti APC, the South West Agenda for Asiwaju 2023 (SWAGA), members of the PDP’s repositioning group, and others are forming what he described as a grand collation to win the election, according to the Ifaki-born politician.
“I have chosen to advance my ambition in the Social Democratic Party (SDP) because we are looking at the future not the present. The party has been around for years and won elections in this country, it is a well known party, that is the reason I chose SDP to contest the June 18, 2022 governorship election in Ekiti state. We have seen the potential in SDP because we believe it is easier to sell as a third force for Nigerians. The process to make me candidate is on going and will soon be completed,” he said.
When questioned how the SDP will win without a known structure less than four months before the election, the former governor said the most crucial structure needed to defeat the APC and PDP in the state is the people’s will and aspirations.
He expressed confidence that his accomplishments as governor, combined with allegations of impunity and unfairness in the two major parties, would influence voters in his favour.
According to him, “I want to say without any forms of contradictions, that we politicians are coming together for this project couple with the opinions of people in the streets. We are looking at a familiar terrain and a party with a potentials and also we are getting supports from people that are well known in Ekiti’s political terrain.
“Let me say that for those who are in APC, four aggrieved aspirants are working with us. In PDP, the people called repositioning group , majority of them are working with us. Also, we are working with SWAGA members, SWAGA is a strong force in APC with strong membership base.
“It is going to be a grand collation that will definitely benefit the people of Ekiti. I believe the goodwill of repositioning group, SWAGA and Segun Oni is almost enough to win election in Ekiti”.
In a fast response to Oni’s assertion about SWAGA, Bamigboye Adegoroye, the Ekiti SWAGA Coordinator, called the former Governor’s claim incorrect.
According to Adegoroye, “That is not true. Members of SWAGA cannot form a coalition with Segun Oni to win any election”
Speaking further, Oni said, ” We must come to reality of how a party is properly managed, if it is not properly managed, it won’t attract good people, that is the fact. I believe whatever is right is right . I have been around for sometime, my antecedents is there for us to see, I am not looking for what to eat but service to the people, that is how I see politics.
” It is the people that will challenge the parties, the people are superior than the APC, PDP. It is what Ekiti people want not the political parties, we are listening to what the people are saying in the streets.I worked for the people with everything I had between 2007 and 2010 when I was governor and the citizens can testify to my achievements.”
Oni, who urged residents of the state to reject vote buying and other types of bribery ahead of the election, declared that everything necessary will be done to prevent voters from sacrificing their future for peanuts.
“We are ready for Ekiti election. We will campaign against vote-buying because it is illegal. We are not going to fold our arms and allow it work here. This condemnable act is against the people and our people must learn from what happened in the past. We must support those who can help our society to develop.
“Will the people still be eating what they got on election day for four years ? It is bad and we will campaign against it because the people are not better now in the last four years in the state, ” he said.
Oni emphasised that the PDP’s criteria on the secret ballot method were broken during the primaries, adding that he reacted to the injustice by leaving the party.
“The PDP primary election was manipulated and devoid of known guidelines in any democracy in the world. What is bad is bad, and we must not be afraid to say the truth at all times.
“The guidelines say it is a secret ballot but the ballot is being shown to the former governor, Ayodele Fayose by the delegates.
“Let me say, If a party cannot manage their processes, it is the party that should be blamed, not the people reacting to injustice. We are only reacting to the obvious injustice.”
