Ekiti 2022: Segun Oni’s governorship posters flood streets

Posters of a former governor of Ekiti State, Segun Oni, heralding his governorship aspiration, have appeared on the streets of Ado Ekiti, the state capital and other major towns of the state.

The posters bear the logo of the People’s Democratic Party(PDP), with a bold inscription, “Segun Oni for Governor, the Reformation has Come.”

The large-sized posters appeared in places in Ado Ekiti metropolis like such as Ajilosun, Basiri, Ijigbo, Ilawe Road, Okeyinmi, as well as other towns like Ikere Ekiti and Ifaki.

Residents were seen clustering around the posters and discussing issues surrounding the politics of the state.

Mr Oni was the governor of Ekiti State between May 29, 2007, and October 15, 2010, on the platform of the PDP. His tenure was brought to an abrupt end through an appeal court judgement delivered by Ayo Isa Salami, in a case.

The judgment was in favour of Kayode Fayemi, who was then the candidate of the Action Congress of Nigeria(ACN).

Mr Oni defected to the All Progressives Congress in 2014 to support Mr Fayemi’s second term ambition, while he served as the Deputy National Chair (South) of the party. Ayo Fayose of the PDP won that election.

He also attempted to return as Governor in the last governorship election and aspired to be the candidate of the All Progressives Congress(APC), but again lost to Mr Fayemi, who was favoured to pick the ticket.

Mr Fayemi went ahead to win the election which held on July 14, 2018, defeating his main rival, and the then Deputy Governor, Kolapo Olusola Eleka of the PDP.

Falling out of favour with the incumbent governor, Mr Oni returned to the PDP last year, alleging that he was being ostracised and maltreated by the APC.

A close ally of Mr Oni, Bayo Arowolaju, said the posters were a reflection of the people’s desire to have the former governor return to lead the state.

Mr Arowolaju is a former Special Adviser to Mr Oni during his time as a governor and member of the media team of his political platform named ‘Atunse Ekiti.’

He said the posters must have emanated from those agitating for the return of his former boss as a governor.

Mr Arowolaju added that the pressure on his former boss to return as a governor has been immense in the last one year, adding that the posters could be an indication of those agitations.“