As over 749,000 voters in Ekiti state go to the polls today to elect a new governor, the race for who succeeds Governor Kayode Fayemi promises to be an epic battle among the contenders.
Just as he’s known for, former governor of the state and chieftain of Ekiti Peoples Democratic Party, (PDP) Ayodele Fayose has come out with another mudslinging and derogatory gimmick by circulating a fake letter to derails voters.
In the letter, which we learnt started circulating yesterday night, it was stated that the guber hopeful, Engineer Segun Oni has withdrawn from the race and pledged his support for PDP candidate, Bisi Kolawole.
Speaking with one of Oni’s aide this morning he said, “This is what Fayose and his men know how to do best, they blackmail you to gain an end. Imagine this mudslinging attempt, PDP even APC know Oni is a formidable force and has created panics in their camps. I urge Ekiti indigenes to disregard this and see it as a mere childish gimmick. They should troop out en masse to vote for the man of the people and no other person than Segun Oni.”
However as the election holds today, the party that is really giving both the APC and the PDP sleepless nights is the Social Democratic Party, SDP.
In fact the party if fondly called a ‘third force’ in Ekiti and the arrow head of that third force in this election is the former governor of the state, Chief Segun Oni, the governorship candidate of the SDP. Indeed, it could be said that the fear of Segun Oni is the beginning of political wisdom among the political parties who are participating in today’s election. Oni’s personality in SDP has been enigmatic.
Oni, who hails from Ifaki Ekiti in Ido/Osi Local Government Area in Ekiti North Senatorial District was the Ekiti governor between 2007 and 2010 before his election was annulled by the judiciary to pave way for Fayemi. He is experienced, brilliant and very popular among the masses. The fact that he paid pension and gratuity expeditiously during his first term had enhanced his popularity among pensioners and civil servants. He also enjoys a network of friends and is largely perceived as one politician that is not ready to compromise.
Oni is being backed by many traditional rulers including first class Obas because of the way he took care of their welfare during his tenure. Many influential politicians from both the APC and PDP have also defected to SDP because of his influence making the party very popular among Ekiti people. Oni’s candidacy enjoys a lot of acceptability and this has been giving the ruling APC some headache.
