There is a sort of realignment in political fronts ahead of the June 18 governorship poll in Ekiti State as allies of Governor Kayode Fayemi and his predecessor, Ayodele Fayose have joined forces with Engr. Segun Oni of the Social Democratic Party(SDP) defeated dominant parties in the state.

It would be recalled that Fayose’s former Chief of Staff, Chief Dipo Anisilowo, an ex-commissioner for Works, Kayode Oso, and Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Owoseeni Ajayi, among other top-ranking politicians of the People’s Democratic Party’s extraction, had defected to SDP in support of Oni.

Besides, Fayemi’s Senior Special Assistant on Electoral Matters, Olaiya Kupolati, and the governor’s former Senior Special Assistant on Internal Security, Deji Adesokan, also decamped to SDP ahead of the June 18 poll.

Sources in Oni’s camp confirmed that some All Progressives Congress members are still disguising themselves as party loyalists, but working in SDP to help Oni wins the poll as a third force that is alien to Ekiti politics.

Speaking about the PDP politicians’ formal declaration for SDP in Ado Ekiti on Saturday, the Publicity Secretary of a pro- Oni campaign organization called ‘Ekiti Build Back Better(EBBB)’, Mr. Idowu Adelusi, said the gale of defections further amplified the Oni’s acceptability in Ekiti.

Adelusi said many of those parading themselves as backers of APC and PDP governorship candidates; Biodun Oyebanji and Bisi Kolawole respectively are for Oni.

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This development, he said would reflect in the outcome of the poll.

According to him, joining the SDP by these politicians was not borne out of desperation for positions and relevance, but of the fact that the entire Ekiti people are already fed up with deception and massive looting of Ekiti by these wicked politicians.

He said” APC and PDP are gradually being emptied on daily basis with the way their bigwigs are coalescing with Segun Oni’s SDP in droves. Oni is now like a magnetic force attracting every politician in Ekiti.

“As of now, notable PDP politicians like former Speaker of the Ekiti State House of Assembly, Pastor Kola Oluwawole; a former Assemblymember, Olayode Omotoso; Chief Bola Olu-Ojo, former State Chairman; Chief Idowu Faleye, former State Chairman; Chief Segun Akinwumi, former State Commissioner; Mr. Jackson Adebayo, former State Publicity Secretary of PDP and Mrs. Abiola Olukayode-Ajayi, former chairman, Ikole Local Government.

“Others include former Nigeria’s Ambassador to Canada, Dare Bejide; Mr. Dapo Lagunju, former State ALGON Chairman; Princess Titi Owolabi, former Assemblymember.

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The list also includes former local government chairmen, former PDP local government chairmen, secretaries, executive members, and as well majority of former National Assembly and Ekiti State House of Assembly members in both PDP and APC.

However, Fayemi’s SSA on Electoral Matters, Hon. Olaiya Kupolati said he decided to pitch his tent with Oni owing to the unwavering confidence he has in his ability to turn around the fortunes of the State if accorded the opportunity to serve.

Recently, Kupolati in a letter dated 23rd March 2022 and addressed to the office of the Secretary to the State Government, resigned from Fayemi’s government.

Kupolati, however, claimed that his resignation was in tandem with the new Electoral Act, which stipulated that every appointee seeking political office should resign accordingly, saying he intends to contest for the House of Assembly on the platform of SDP.

While speaking on his resignation and subsequent defection to SDP at his ward in Iye Ekiti, Ilejemeje Local Government area of Ekiti State, Kupolati described Oni as having a better experience and pedigree to govern Ekiti.

He said: ” I perceive former governor Segun Oni as the best man for Ekiti after Governor Fayemi at this trying time and I am ready to support him.

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“The former governor is a man of the people. A man of integrity, with unblemished records. He has a better pedigree. He performed very well while in office in his first term, so he deserves reelection by every standard.

“I am also following the trend in town, especially my people in Ilejemeje, they are totally for Segun Oni and as a good leader and community person, I don’t want to work against the wish of my constituents “