Two Things That May Have Contributed To Oni's Failure To Win Ekiti PDP Gubernatorial Primaries

As the People's Democratic Party's Gubernatorial primaries in Ekiti State comes to an end with Bisi Kolawole being declared winner of the exercise, questions are being asked as to what could have contributed to Segun Oni's failure.

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Oni who was declared governor of the state before a court order unseated him, was in the race along with Bisi Kolawole, who eventually emerged winner of the party's Gubernatorial ticket.

With his previous political experience contesting for the Governorship position in the state, it was argued that he had an upper hand going into the primaries. His subsequent loss may have been due to some reasons.

Distrust from the Ekiti State PDP

Oni's failure to clinch the People's Democratic Party's Gubernatorial candidacy in Ekiti State could be due to the lack of trust that the party structures in the state have for his person.

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Recall that Oni had in 2014 abandoned the PDP and defected to the All Progressive Congress after he ran, won the state's Governorship elections, and was later unseated by a court.

Even though the former Ekiti State governor later returned to the PDP, he might have lost the trust of those at the echelons of the party who may be of the view that he has not shown loyalty to the party.

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His Rift with Ayo Fayose

Before his second return to the PDP, Segun Oni had reportedly been in the bad books of former Ekiti State governor, Ayodele Fayose, who did not support his Gubernatorial ambitions in the party.

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In fact, Fayose had kicked against the return of Segun Oni to the People's Democratic Party, saying that the former deputy national chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) is a paperweight when it comes to Ekiti State politics.

Even though Oni was later welcomed into the PDP, it is argued that Fayose might have been holding grudges against Oni, leading to Fayose giving his support to Bisi Kolawole, who emerged winner of the primaries.