Oyebanji’s Tribunal Victory: SDP,ADC  In Disarray As Members Join APC 

Sola POPOOLA
Many members of the opposition parties have joined the ruling All Progressives Congress(APC)  in Ekiti .
Their defection followed the recent victory of the governor Biodun Abayomi Oyebanji at the Election Petition tribunal sitting in Ado-Ekiti .This happened few hours after the Election Petitions Tribunal sitting in Ekiti State  upheld the victory of Governor Oyebanji and his Deputy, Chief Monisade Afuye in the June 18,2022 governorship election
The defectors were mostly stalwarts of the  African Democratic Congress(ADC) and Social Democratic Party(SDP) in  Ikere Local Government Area of Ekiti State.
They also promised to work for the victory  of  the APC Presidential candidate, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu at the 2023 poll.
Spokesman of the defectors and former SDP Legal Adviser in Ikere Local Government , Mr. Olatunbosun Asana, stated that  he led hundreds of supporters  of his former party  in Ikere constituency 2 into APC  to work for the success of the party’s  candidates in 2023.
They predicated  their actions on their interest and willingness to join hands with the Oyebanji’s government to bring about meaningful changes and ensure total victory for Tinubu in next year’s general election.
Asana dispelled the insinuation  that he defected to APC because of the Thursday’s Tribunal judgement, which upheld the election of Oyebanji and his Deputy, Chief (Mrs)Monisade Afuye.
“We came to support and enjoy dividends of democracy in APC. I personally observed that the present administration has what it takes to move Ekiti  forward and we need to join hands to achieve its lofty dreams of ensuring  economic prosperity for the people”.
Also, the ADC Chairman in Ikere Local Government, Mr Lanre Adekogba, added  that he was captivated to joining APC owing to Oyebanji’s open -door policy and well encapsulated six- point agenda of his administration.
Adekogba, who pointed out that Governor Oyebanji had demonstrated that he had the interest of bringing  development, noted that the Governor had spread the olive branch to those in opposition parties, including other stakeholders like traditional rulers and diasporan Ekiti  to build a virile and economically buoyant State.
He expressed confidence in the ability  of the APC Presidential flagbearer, Tinubu,  to change the current economic and security problems that  had  consumed many Nigerians.
” Tinubu brought about meaningful changes when he was Governor of Lagos state. He solved transport problem, he is a developer, so if he can emerge the president of Nigeria, he would surely solve the current challenges”.
Receiving the defectors, the Ekiti State Deputy Governor, Mrs Afuye, expressed joy that those  who were formerly members of the APC in Ikere are back into the fold, promising that the party will accord  them equal opportunitiea as old members.
Mrs Afuye, represented by her Deputy Chief of Staff, Mr Victor Adeniyi, charged the defectors to work for the success of APC candidates in 2023, saying the present administration is incurably committed to putting smile on the faces of youths, farmers and young graduates .
She said that the six -point agenda of Governor Oyebanji was carefully crafted to put Ekiti on a pedestal of meaningful growth, economic advancement and prosperity .
“Ekiti is our Jerusalem, please join hands to make the state great. I am appealing to those who are still in opposition parties to please and please join the APC moving train.
” The present administration will do everything possible to make the people happy. Our plans, programmes and policies will be tailored towards rapid Ekiti’s development and all of us shall benefit”.

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