A former governor of Ekiti State, Engr Segun Oni, has formally joined the Social Democratic Party (SDP) to contest for the June 18 governorship election in the state.

Oni, who was the governor of Ekiti State between 2007 and 2010, announced his defection to SDP while speaking on a private radio station, Voice 89.9FM in Ado-Ekiti, the state capital on Wednesday.

He disclosed that the necessary paperwork by the national leadership of the SDP for him to be the party’s candidate and his running mate would soon be concluded with the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

Segun Oni, who revealed that four aggrieved governorship aspirants in the All Progressives Congress (APC) have decided to support him in the new political party, stated that his decision to move to the SDP was a result of the continued call by the people for him to contest the forthcoming gubernatorial election as a third force.

He added that the members of a factional group in Ekiti APC, the South West Agenda for Asiwaju 2023 (SWAGA), and the members of the repositioning group in the PDP have also declared to support his governorship ambition.

He said: “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 a candidate is ongoing and will soon be completed.

“I want to say without any forms of contradictions, that we politicians are coming together for this project coupled with the opinions of people in the streets. We are looking at a familiar terrain and a party with potential and also we are getting support from people that are well known in Ekiti’s political terrain.”

The former governor continued: “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 a 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 the election in Ekiti.

READ ALSO: Ekiti guber: Fayose’s ally, Kolawole, trounces Segun Oni for PDP ticket

“We must come to the 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 some time, my antecedents are 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 to 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 said.

This is coming a few days after Oni announced he had dumped the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) after he rejected the outcome of the party’s governorship primary election in Ekiti State.

The former governor lost the governorship ticket of the PDP to Otunba Bisi Kolawole, who is said to be an anointed candidate of former Governor Ayodele Fayose.

Bisi Kolawole was declared the winner of the PDP governorship primary election with 671 votes, while Oni, his closest rival, garnered 330 votes.

The Star recalls that the Segun Oni Campaign Organisation had rejected the outcome of the PDP governorship primary election held in Ado-Ekiti, the state capital on Wednesday, January 26, 2022.

The Director-General of the Campaign Organisation, Hon. Yemi Arokodare, in a statement, alleged that members of the organisation were disenchanted by the process.

Arokodare alleged that the delegates’ register was mutilated and many delegates’ names were missing from the register.

According to him, 32 automatic delegates who were accredited were not given tags and were not allowed to vote.

Arokodare said Governor Udom also allegedly threatened to arrest and lock all of these delegates if any of them should come into the hall.

The organisation boss also alleged that Udom deliberately allowed Fayose to sit in the hall even after he has voted, a situation which is against the rules earlier pronounced by Udom.

According to him, Udom allowed aides of Fayose to sit in the hall purposely to intimidate other delegates.

Arokodare alleged that Fayose was the chairman of Udom election committee in Akwa Ibom and that the January 26 PDP primary election was a payback for Ayo Fayose.

He concluded that the primary was not free and fair.

TheStar