Ekiti 2018: PDP aspirants, supporters move to SDP

SOME governorship aspirants in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Ekiti State have moved to the Social Democratic Party (SDP) with a view to pursuing their governorship aspiration.

There were also strong rumours that the Senator representing Ekiti Central in the Senate, Chief (Mrs) Fatimat Raji Rasaki, and some other bigwigs of the party may likely move to the SDP before the July 14 governorship polls.

A former deputy governor of the state, Mr Bisi Omoyeni, and some other leaders of PDP attended the SDP stakeholders meeting held in Ado Ekiti on Monday and had announced their loyalty to the party.

Apart from Omoyeni, who was there himself, another aspirant, Ambassador Dare Bejide was represented at the meeting by Mr Yemi Arokodare, while Chief Titi Oluwatuyi, apart from announcing her presence, also claimed that Senator Raji Rasaki was interested in the SDP.

The PDP chiefs have been in rancour with Governor Ayodele Fayose for openly expressing his support for his deputy, Professor Kolapo Olubunmi Olusola, as the PDP candidate in the governorship election.

Omoyeni, who resigned as the deputy governor to take up a role as the Managing Director of Wema Bank, said the SDP was “established by divine creation” and that it had “become the third force.”

Omoyeni said: “Be rest assured that our people are coming en masse to this party. Any support the party need to occupy the Ekiti government house we will render it.

“Most of the aspirants who are still slugging it out in other parties are coming here. In fact, 70 per cent of the members of PDP in Ekiti are moving to SDP.”

Fielding questions from reporters after the stakeholders meeting, the National Publicity Secretary, Mr Yemi Akinbode who led other National Working Committee of the SDP to the stakeholders meeting, said that the meeting was called because of the Ekiti election which he said was strategic to the party.

“This is the first meeting after the inauguration of the interim state working committee of SDP, because the election is fast approaching and we have little or no time on our hands, the leadership of the party at the National level mandated me and others including Prof Tunde Adeniran to come to Ekiti state to quickly put together the stakeholders meeting to explain to them the vision, programmes as well as the structure of the party and our expectation in the coming governorship election in Ekiti.

“You can see that this is the first meeting and the attendance was good. People are already coming out who ordinarily will not have shown their faces. This is an indication that this is the party to beat.

“It is instructive that those sending representatives are already here. Bisi Omoyeni is here by himself. That is to show that he is here with us. Ambassador Dare Bejide and Hon Arokodare are here and that is to show that more are still coming and that is an indication that the house that divided against itself can’t stand and that is to show that the PDP is in trouble.

“Our doors are still open to members of other parties who are willing to join the moving train. Our goal and objective is to win the governorship election in Ekiti come July 14,” he said.

The SDP, however, constituted six standing committees for the purpose of galvanising support for the party ahead of the July 14 election. They are the Contact and Mobilization, Youth,

Women, Communication and strategy, Result and Funding and Elders Committees.

Meanwhile, the Advance People Democratic Party (APDA) in Ekiti State yesterday said it has merged with the SDP. The leader of the party in the state, Chief S.O Elebute, who led some members of the party to the SDP stakeholders meeting, made the declaration.