SDP leaders adopt APC gov’ship candidate in Oyo

By Adenike Kaffi (Ibadan), Hope Abah Emmanuel (Makurdi) & Ahmed Mohammed (Bauchi)

Leaders of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) in Oyo State have adopted the governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Senator Teslim Folarin, as their preferred candidate for the March 18, governorship poll in the state.

The decision was reached during their emergency congress in Ibadan.

Addressing the gathering, the SDP Chairman, Oyo State, Michael Okunlade, said their decision was in search of good governance in the state.

He said, “In the last 46 months, governance has become something else in Oyo. I am not saying this because we were neglected. In fact, we had moved on long ago. Although I will still get to talk about it. Things are going bad and we are surprised people are not talking about it.

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SDP leaders adopt APC gov’ship candidate in Oyo

“We believe that to right these wrongs, there is a need for us to form a virile coalition with a party that can dislodge this administration that has shown itself to be lacking in development. That is why, after many meetings with major stakeholders even outside of our party, we arrived at Sen Teslim Folarin of the APC.”

Similarly, the Young Progressives Party (YPP) in Benue State has adopted the governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Titus Uba, for the March 18, election in the state.

State Chairman of YPP, Dr Hough Gwadue, told newsmen in Makurdi shortly after the party’s expanded state executive meeting that the adoption of Uba was based on reasons of survival and growth of the state.

Gwadue said that even though the YPP had been in the governorship race until a few hours before the decision to back the PDP governorship candidate was taken, the idea was in the best interest of the state and the YPP.

Meanwhile, a former Speaker of the House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara, has endorsed the governorship candidate of the APC, Air Marshal Sadiq Baba Abubakar (Rtd), in Bauchi State.

Though a member of the PDP Presidential Campaign Council, Dogara has led a campaign team of Air Marshal Sadiq Baba Abubakar across some Bauchi local government areas, including Alkaleri, where Governor Bala Mohammed and candidate of his party the PDP comes from.

Speaking to a mammoth crowd of supporters in Alkaleri, Dogara said, “We came to tell you the truth that we need to effect a change of leadership in Bauchi State. I urge you all to cast your vote for Air Marshal Sadiq Abubakar on Saturday.”