FAKE NEWS ALERT: Segun Oni didn’t withdraw from Ekiti governorship race

Segun Oni, governorship candidate of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) in Ekiti, did not author a viral letter claiming he has withdrawn from the governorship election.

On Friday, a now-viral letter appeared on social media with the claim that Oni had withdrawn from the governorship race to support Bisi Kolawole, candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

In the letter, which was seen by TheCable, the author claimed that Oni is withdrawing from the race over claims that the SDP national leadership is illegal.

“My Good People of Ekiti State, we regret to inform you that the SDP leadership that gave us the ticket to run for governorship is illegal as the tenure of the NWC had expired since 2020 with no convention held to elect new officers until last week,” the letter reads.

“The implications is that we are a product of illegality and all other nominations done by the SDP leadership stand null and void.”

But Oni issued a statement dismissing the report of his withdrawal from the governorship race.

”My name is Olusegun Adebayo Oni. I am the governorship candidate of the Social Democratic Party (SDP). Disregard any rumour to the contrary. I remain the candidate of the SDP,” he said.

Speaking with TheCable, Moses Jolayemi, Oni’s campaign spokesperson, said the “letter is a circulation of madness by the APC” and that “Ekiti people will cure that madness”.

“Someone held a rally on the previous day, now they are circulating a letter that he has withdrawn. How is that possible? That is madness. Ekiti people are behind us, and they will cure this madness.”

On his part, Gani Salau, SDP spokesperson in Ekiti, said Oni has not withdrawn from the race, and that the letter is “a figment of the imagination of the opposition”.

“Segun Oni is not withdrawing. How can he withdraw on the day of the election? It is the work of opposition,” he said.