Soji Ajibola, Ibadan
The second term plan of incumbent Governor of Oyo State, Mr. Seyi Makinde, suffered a serious setback on Tuesday as one of the political party leaders, who formed a coalition for his election in the 2019 governorship election in Oyo State, Senator Olufemi Lanlehin and over 5,000 members of the African Democratic Congress have dumped the party for the All Progressives Congress .
Senator Lanlehin disclosed this after a meeting of leaders, loyalists and supporters, who were also former members of the African Democratic Congress in the state, in Ibadan.
The governorship candidate of the ADC in the 2019 election, and former senator representing Oyo South senatorial district between 2011 and 2015, in the meeting convened at his residence, had earlier briefed attendees which included the Oyo State Executive Committee of the ADC, led by Rev. Ezekiel Adeniran, some candidates of the party in the 2019 general elections, and loyalists of the SOLAN brand, on the series of re conciliatory meetings he had attended in the conclusion of plans towards joining the APC, particularly the publicised one of Thursday, September 10, 2020, with the APC National Reconciliation Committee in Abuja, as well as other measures put in place to ensure the Oyo State Chapter of the party is well reconciled, and takes its rightful pride of place in the governance of the state.
“The reconciliation process by the National Reconciliation Committee of the APC headed by His Excellency, Governor of Jigawa State, Alh. Mohammed Badaru Abubakar, supported by four other governors, including Ekiti State’s Governor Kayode Fayemi, is clearly succeeding in its given task,” Lanlehin noted.
While assuring loyalists drawn from the 33 local government areas of the state who had thronged his Adabeji residence for the meeting, Lanlehin reminded them of his unfailing desire to always prioritize the interest of the common man.
He added that in all the steps he had taken thus far, remaining pro-people had remained centrepiece.
Speakers at the meeting, which included Adeniran, Chief E. O. Laoye, Hon. Bili Ajana, Yeye Yetunde Ajibola, Hon. Gaphar Ojetola, Hon. Habib Balogun, Alh. Muraina Kakako, and others eulogised, Lanlehin for his unselfish and accommodating approach to politics, praying posterity will be kind to him.
Similarly, representatives drawn from the 33 local government areas, who spoke one after the other, endorsed the move, noting in their submissions that Lanlehin’s return to the APC should best be termed a homecoming, having begun his politics from the progressive camp, from his days in the defunct Social Democratic Party (SDP) and the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), one of the legacy parties of the APC.
A motion for the eventual movement of Lanlehin and the entire structure of the Oyo State African Democratic Congress, enmasse into the All Progressives Congress (APC) was subsequently moved, seconded and adopted.