Members of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) in Oyo State have chosen the All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate, Teslim Folarin, as their preferred option. The decision was announced on Thursday following an emergency State Congress held in Ibadan. The meeting, chaired by SDP state chairman Michael Okunlade, was attended by party leaders from all 33 local government areas.
During the congress, participants reviewed the SDP’s performance in the recent presidential and National Assembly elections before agreeing to form a coalition with the APC. The delegates expressed confidence in collaborating with Folarin but also urged caution. In separate remarks, they resolved not to support the incumbent governor and PDP candidate, Seyi Makinde, citing his “inability to fulfil the previous agreement with the coalition parties that brought him to power in 2019.”
Okunlade explained that the majority of SDP members have decided to join forces with the APC because of perceived injustices suffered under the PDP since the party’s inception. He praised SDP leaders such as Alhaja Mulikat Akande‑Adeola for their contributions and emphasized that the alliance with the APC is intended to correct the wrongs attributed to the Makinde administration. “We believe that to right these wrongs, there is need for us to form a vigorous coalition with a party that can dislodge this administration, which has shown itself to be lacking in development,” he said.
After several meetings with key stakeholders, including those outside the SDP, Okunlade confirmed that the party’s support for Folarin is limited to the governorship race. He urged supporters to vote for SDP candidates in the House of Assembly, stating, “Our decision is based solely on the development of our dear state. He has the record; he is not someone who would promise what he wouldn’t do. He is as straight as that.” He concluded by calling on everyone to vote en masse for the SDP House of Assembly candidates.
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