Crisis rocks Ekiti PDP as Fayose rejects Oni’s return
Tunde Opalana, Abuja
Another crisis is brewing in the Ekiti state chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) following the personality clash between two former governors of the state.
This is due to the stance of former Governor Ayo Fayose that Segun Oni, also an ex-governor and his supporters would not be welcomed back into the PDP.
He said that henceforth, no paperweight politician would be allowed to decamp to the state chapter of the party henceforth.
Fayose said this on Tuesday, while reacting to a declaration letter, dated May 24, addressed to the state PDP caretaker committee by the former governor and former Deputy National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Chief Segun Oni indicating his interest to return to the PDP.
Oni said in the 9-page letter that “at our consultative meeting on the March 15, we took a decision to leave the APC for the PDP.
“Our purpose of writing this letter is to inform you formally that we have since directed our members to join the PDP at their respective wards and that as soon as the COVID-19 restrictions permit, we would like to mark our declaration with a rally at Ado Ekiti. This will be in full consultation and agreement with you.”
However, Oni’s decision to return to the PDP seems to have reawakened the rift between the two former governors, Ayo Fayose and Segun Oni respectively, as Fayose is opposed to Oni’s intention of rejoining the party based on what he referred to as his (Oni’s) political irrelevance.
Describing Oni and his group as paperweights, Fayose who forwarded Oni’s letter to the official PDP WhatsApp platform, said Oni and his group are not welcome in the PDP.
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Fayose said: “Majority of these Oni’s fellow returnees are nothing, but known no weights, whose names are simply to fill the gaps in desperation for recognition. No welcome to them all.”
Meanwhile, Oni’s intentions to return to PDP has been described as a welcome development by majority of party members, especially those in Senator Biodun Olujimi’s camp.
According to them, Oni’s political clout is needed to further compliment the progressive efforts of Senator Olujimi and other leaders who are poised at repositioning the party.
