By Adeleye Kunle
As political parties seek support for their parties and candidates ahead of the 2023 elections, Hon. Yemi Arokodare, a former member of the House of Representatives and chieftain of the main opposition Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, said on Sunday that Chief Segun Oni remains the deciding factor in Ekiti politics, Track News reports.
Arokodare, who served in the House of Representatives from 2003 to 2007, urged caution in the approach taken by some PDP leaders in Ekiti to win over members of the Social Democratic Party, SDP, without consulting Oni.
Arokodare, a Co-Convener of a new group, Ekiti Coalition for Atiku, ECA, described the SDP candidate who finished second in the Ekiti State governorship election as “a leader we must work with to win in Ekiti” in a statement issued in Abuja.
“This is going to be a hotly contested presidential election,” Arokodare says, “so we need all the votes we can get in Ekiti and in every state of the federation to win in 2023, and this will necessitate some level of alignment and realignment.”
“In Ekiti, we have begun the process of reaching out to Chief Segun Oni to seek his support, which will include asking our party’s leadership to reach out to the SDP National body to explore the possibility of forming an alliance for the Presidential election.”
“This is why our group is urging caution in the approach taken by some individuals in Ekiti who are attempting to woo SDP members in the state without consulting Chief Segun Oni.”
“However, I am pleased that our Vice Presidential candidate, Dr Ifeanyi Okowa, has been extremely organized and wise in his approach to endearing the Atiku ticket to other parties and stakeholders, including some strategic outreach.”
“To win in 2023, we must not only unite all contending groups internally, but we must also quickly begin the process of seeking an alliance with other political parties in opposition, including the SDP, APGA, ADC, and others, to work towards a government of national unity.”
“While we urge Governor Nyesom Wike and his supporters to lay down their swords, we also urge candidate Atiku Abubakar to reach out to all parties in order to heal the party.”
“Let me reiterate what I said a few weeks ago: history will not forgive us if we fail to make sacrifices, put differences aside as opposition members, and respond to Nigerians’ call to rescue them from the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC.”
“Nigerians are waiting for the PDP to heal, unite, and reach out to everyone in opposition in order to free our country from the political cankerworm known as the APC,” Arokodare said.
According to the Atiku Coalition, Segun Oni will still be a deciding factor in Ekiti politics in 2023.
