The Social Democratic Party (SDP) Oyo State Chapter, on Saturday, adopted the state governor, Engr. Seyi Makinde, who is seeking a second term under the platform of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
Leaders and members of the party, while declaring their support for the governor, cited his antecedents in office as governor of the state.
Similarly, the party announced adoption of all the PDP candidates at both the National and state levels, as well as the two term governor of Lagos State, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Bola Tinubu, who is the presidential candidate of All Progressive Congress (APC) as its presidential candidate at the forthcoming general elections.
Briefing journalists shortly after the meeting where SDP members in the state raised motions and unanimously adopted Governor Makinde Makinde, the National Deputy Secretary of the party, Engr. Adewole Adeshina, who also doubles as the Highest National Officer of party in the state, hinted that the party at the national level is currently battling with internal crisis.
He said, “We are having a case which is at the court at the national level, and this has been on for about three to four years now and it is just coming to an end because we are having the next hearing by 24th of February, there are two factions in the party and I belonged to the main faction because we are the plaintiff in the court.
“We must take a decision because of our teeming supporters that are asking for directions most especially as we approaches election days, we must look around and see who fits into the agenda of SDP, and that is why today we have adopted Engr. Seyi Makinde who incidentally was our candidate.
“I’m happy to say that I was opportuned to have introduced Governor Makinde into the SDP in 2014 where he contested under the party platform in 2015, and people decided that they want to have presidential candidate of their own and they have adopted Asiwaju Ahmed Tinubu and that is what we have come to do here today.”
“Those of us that are here today are the real founding fathers of SDP, and we have said this is our choice and that is our position for now as we approach general election,” He said.
In his remarks, the gubernatorial candidates of SDP in 2019, Chief Bolaji Ayorinde SAN maintained that Governor Seyi Makinde deserve second term in office because of his performances in office since he assumed office as the executive governor of the state.
Ayorinde said, “SDP has since 2019 been given support to the state governor Engr. Seyi Makinde and that support has not stopped, so today the leaders of the party thought it wise that we publicly declared that support for him, so that is what we’ve come to do here today.”
“Like have always said there can be only one governor at a time, if I cannot fulfill my ambition to be governor in 2019 and the person that fulfilled that ambition with my support does the thing that I would have wished to do for my people, then I think I should keep supporting him. What Seyi Makinde administration is doing in Oyo state are things that I would have loved to do for my people if I’m a governor.”
“There can only be one governor at a time, so if he is there and he’s doing the right thing, I think the best thing for us is to support him, and we should give him another chance to complete all the projects he has embacked upon.” Ayorinde said.
A Communiqué that was issued at the end of the meeting that was held at Samonda Ibadan, the Capital City of the state which was signed by the state chairman of the party Alhaji Kola Balogun confirmed that all the state executives of SDP, as well as all local govt delegates from all the 33 LGAs of the state, inducing the stakeholders jointly make the declaration of adopting Engr. Seyi Makinde and all the PDP candidates in the state as SDP candidates.
The communiqué stated further that we are all aware of the legal battle pending in Abuja Fed High Court 5 wherein we are the plaintiff, during the course of this legal battle the court had made an interim pronouncement that all sides should maintain status quo, In furthering of this at our national convention on 31st May 2022 in Merit House, Abuja the Convention took a decision that all officers democratically elected in March 2016 remain recognized until the case is determined.
“In this regards we salute our nat executives led by the national Chairman Chief Supo Shonibare for strengthening the Party up to this moment, equally at an exploratory meeting with the defendants in Lagos on Sept 27th last year our Party took a decision that besides the Presidential office, each state is free to support any other political party’s candidate in other positions contested in this 2023 elections.
“Consequent upon this Hon. Kola Balogun led Oyo State executives had communicated same to all d 33 LGAs, I am happy that there is general consensus to support the incumbent governor, Engr. Seyi Makinde because of the laudable project he is doing in Oyo State.
” The laudable development projects are numerous which includes the Iwo road interchange and Bus Terminal, the completion of the Ibadan Saki – Iseyin Road, the Emmanuel Alayandele University of Education, the reconstructed sports stadiums, the modern bus transport system, prompt payment of pensions and all civil servants salaries, unprecedented 13th month yearly salary payments to all civil servants, motor Garage Park management system which has brought relief to commuters and transport operators in Oyo State”.
