Just In : Oni meets Tinubu, plans to meet Buhari, Fayemi tomorrow, may withdraw from Ekiti Guber race
A few hours after meeting with the All Progressives Congress, APC, presidential candidate, Senator Bola Tinubu, in Akure, the governorship candidate of the Social Democratic Party, SDP, in Ekiti State, Mr Segun Oni, is set to allegedly meet with President Muhammadu Buhari and Governor Kayode Fayemi of Ekiti State.
The meeting, scheduled for Thursday night, was said to have been brokered by former National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Chief Odigie Oyegun.
Informed sources said it will be centred on getting Oni to work with the APC in the governorship election on Saturday this weekend.
While the APC was holding its campaign rally in Ado Ekiti yesterday, Oni was said to be in Akure, waiting for Tinubu. He eventually met with him (Tinubu) at about 6 pm.
Though at the time of filing this report, what they discussed was not clear, a source said Oni allegedly begged Tinubu for funds and promised to defect to the ruling APC before the presidential election.
Tinubu was however said to cleverly dodge the request, telling him (Oni) to meet President Buhari and Fayemi first.
Oyegun, who will lead Oni to the president was the National Chairman of APC when he (Oni) was Deputy National Chairman (South). Oyegun handed over to Oni in February 2016 when he embarked on a 10-day vacation.
Oni defended President Buhari vehemently till he left APC in 2020. In one of the instances of his open defence of President Buhari, he took on former Governor of Ekiti State, Ayodele Fayose, when he told the president to resign over fuel scarcity.
According to a close ally of the former governor, the meeting is scheduled for the presidential villa, Abuja.
The ally who spoke under the condition of anonymity said Oni is expected to do a subtle withdrawal from the governorship race after the meeting.
He disclosed that funds have not been coming as expected and Oni may not have the capacity to prosecute his election. Hence, he may withdraw from the race to support the ruling APC if he didn’t get financial help.
Oni is expected to announce his withdrawal from the governorship race, citing insecurity, the source told our heritage reporter Nigeria on Thursday.
