Ekiti 2022: PDP In Crisis; Senator Olujimi’s Supporters Dump Party, Pledges Support, For APC

By Akinwale Kasali

As the Ekiti State Governorship Election draws close, opposition Party in the State, the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, is in disarray following the mass defection from the Party to the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC.

PDP Governorship aspirant in the Party’s Primary, Senator Biodun Olujimi, is still disenchanted with the outcome of the Party’s Primary that saw her not getting the ticket of hoisting the Party’s Flag at the polls.

To underscore that, scores of her supporters in Efon Alaaye, home town of the PDP flag bearer in the June 18 election, Bisi Kolawole, has dumped the party and declared support for the candidate of the APC, Biodun Abayomi Oyebanji.

The PDP members, who belonged to the Repositioning Group, under the leadership of Senator Olujimi, cited the, alleged shenanigans of those at the affairs of the PDP, as reason for their decision to dump the party.

Ajayi Busuyi, popularly known as ‘Nanko’ from Ward 3, leader of the Group, speaking on behalf of other decampees during Oyebanji’s ‘thank you visit to Efon Local Government, said they had lost faith in the leadership of PDP and had no choice but to join the All Progressives Congress ( APC).

“Our decision to dump PDP is as a result of our conviction that APC is well positioned to provide quality leadership for Ekiti. We belonged to the repositioning group within the PDP and we had a strong belief that the group would revamp the party but all the plans were scuttled by some unprogressive elements within.

“As things stand, the future looks bleak for the PDP in  Ekiti, hence our decision to align with other progressive minds to vote in Mr. Biodun Oyebanji, as governor of Ekiti State, come June 18,”

Another member of the group, Alasi Gboyega, alias ‘Sweet Mouth’, from Ward 9 Efon promised, on behalf of others, that they would henceforth joined hands with APC members to woo more PDP members into APC, adding that they would not sit down and allow Efon Alaaye to be misled by selfish politicians.

Receiving the decampees, a former Chairman of the APC, Chief Jide Awe, said the development was heart-warming.

According to Awe, “Efon Alaaye is the sixth Local Government we would be visiting on this ‘thank you visit’ but it is now on record that this is the first time we are receiving decampees from another party. This is heart-warming and we sincerely welcome our brothers and sisters from the other side for crossing to the progressive camp.

“While welcoming them on behalf of the leadership of the party, we assure them of fair treatment and cooperation,”

The APC candidate, Biodun Oyebanji, who also spoke at the event described Efon Alaaye as his second home, adding he felt comfortable sitting with his people. He described the defection of PDP members to APC in Efon as a demonstration of love from his people.

“I feel at home being in Efon because of my early days’ upbringing in Efon and the fact that my father was once a Principal in the community. In particular, I congratulate the teachers here today because my parents were teachers and I’m going to be a teacher- governor. Another issue that impresses me here today is the defection of many people from PDP. To me, this is symbolic and a signal that Efon people are prepared for the task ahead. I assure those coming in of a level playing field in APC and I promise to always be there for our people,”

The leader of the team and  Chairman, Ekiti State Local Government Service Commission,  Chief Alaba Bejide, commended members of the party in Ijero, Ekiti West and Irepodun Ifelodun local Governments, for their support during the primary election and urged them to make sure they get their PVC before June 18 in order to be able to vote for Oyebanji.

“The primary election was just a phase,  the coming campaign is another phase, but the biggest assignment before us is the June 18 election. It is through the election we would be able to use our votes to elect Biodun Abayomi Oyebanji as Governor of Ekiti State.

“This can only be done if we have PVC which is our license to vote. Our findings have revealed that many of us are yet to get our PVC, especially those who were not up to age 18 during the 2018 election.”