EX-Ekiti State Governor Segun Oni has attributed his exit from All Progressives Congress (APC) to Governor Kayode Fayemi’s devillish political machination.
Oni said APC under Fayemi was riddled with impunity, injustice and disrespect for internal democracy.
The former governor said the party was run by Fayemi through his surrogates like a private fiefdom.
He challenged Fayemi’s election from the High Court to the Supreme Court, claiming Fayemi did not resign his appointment as minister before contesting for governor in 2018.
He regretted that despite his contributions to Fayemi’s victory in 2018, he was still treated like a political orphan.
Oni, who spoke through Ife Arowosoge, director-general of his political platform – Atunse Ekiti Movement, said his decision to join Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) was part of the resolution taken by loyalists.
According to him, he found PDP more captivating at this time having learnt its lessons from the 2015 defeat. He described PDP as better organised and more democratic than it was in the past.
He said: “At the Ifaki-Ekiti meeting, which was attended by 250 Oni core loyalists, the supporters resolved they were being treated like lepers in Ekiti APC. We observed that Ekiti APC doesn’t believe in democracy from the ward, local government and state levels, while appointments to government positions are limited to family, friends and associates of the governor.
“Dr. Kayode Fayemi and his group introduced a novelty of nepotism and clannishness that is not known to democracy in giving appointment. In the last election, no nomination form was available or refund made to any of Oni’s supporters.
“Many of our members were threatened with expulsion and suspension, while some handpicked ward executives were instigated to suspend him indefinitely. We sent a petition to the NWC about this irresponsible action but nothing was done. For all these, Atunse Ekiti sees no future for its members in APC because of deep-rooted impunity and display of hatred for Segun Oni. Members thereby advise their leader, Segun Oni, who they have been following for his integrity, honesty, incorruptibility and records of performance, to lead them out of APC to PDP.”
Oni said his defection to PDP was not motivated by inordinate governorship ambition, but to join like-minded democrats to build a prosperous state for the benefit of the downtrodden.
But APC’s Publicity Secretary Ade Ajayi said the party never treated Oni unfairly but accorded him respect and recognition when he joined the party from PDP in 2014.
He said: “We are not surprised he is returning to PDP where he came from; though I don’t know the shabby treatment that informed his decision.
“Oni was suspended from his ward because he offended it, and instead of explaining himself, he refused. Don’t forget the party’s constitution stipulates that anybody, no matter how highly placed, can be disciplined by the party. If he is now accusing the state executives or leaders, I will rather say he is an ungrateful soul because the party gave him the patronage he does not deserve.”
