Ololade Adeyanju/
The Labour Party (LP) in Oyo State, today, announced the adoption of Governor Seyi Makinde of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) as its candidate in the March 11 governorship election.
The state chairman of LP, Hon. Sodiq Atayese, who disclosed this at a press conference held at the party’s secretariat, Molete, Ibadan, said the decision was based on the similarity in the ideology of both parties.
Atayese Labour Party members and supporters in the state would have thrown their weight behind Makinde in his re-election bid at the expense of Taofiq Akinwale, who is the party’s gubernatorial candidate.
The event was attended by all members of the State Working Committee of the party, as well as National Assembly and State Assembly candidates, amongst others.
His words, “The last Presidential election was keenly contested by the three major parties in the country and the result of the election as announced by INEC shows that the Labour Party is a force to reckon with.”
“The result of the Presidential election in Oyo State is similar to that. While the result of the election in its entirety is still a subject of contention, the takehome of the election is that a third force party that emerged barely a year ago has grown to become a strong force because of the quality of its candidate.
“Having considered this, in the upcoming election in our dear state, we have decided to support a candidate with the character, competence and capacity to lead and who is also concerned about the wellbeing of the citizens as it is obvious that no party can win the gubernatorial election alone.
“However, the main priority should be that the citizens win through the emergence of a candidate that best serves their interest.
“Based on this, we have decided to work with the party whose candidate aligns with ours in terms of security, agricultural development and financial well-being. And it is obvious that the current administration of Seyi Makinde has done this.
“And we hereby call on all citizens of Oyo State to vote for him. This decision was taken with serious consideration for the party’s future in the state.”
Atayase emphasised that LP has not collapsed its structure in the state as all its House of Assembly candidates across the state are still in the race.
He added that the party’s national secretariat is aware of the decision of the Oyo State chapter.
0