Sola Ebiseni, the South-West campaign coordinator of the Labour Party’s presidential candidate in the 2023 presidential election, Peter Obi, on Wednesday, said he was not a card-carry member of any other political party apart from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
Mr Ebiseni, who worked for Mr Obi of the LP in the presidential election, spoke on Wednesday after returning to the PDP at a welcome event held at the opposition party’s secretariat in Akure, the state capital.
“…I have always been a member of the Peoples Democratic Party and I do not have any other political party’s membership card other than that of the PDP,” he said after announcing his official return to the party amid a rousing welcome from supporters.
Peoples Gazette had earlier reported today that Mr Ebiseni, who is also the secretary general of the pan-Yoruba socio-political organisation, Afenifere, would officially trace his steps back to the opposition party despite working for Mr Obi’s Labour party in the general election.
He was one of the vocal voices in the South-West that rooted for Mr Obi and his political movement ‘Obidient’ during the polls that split Afenifere members into two factions, with one led by Reuben Fasoranti supporting Bola Tinubu of the APC.
A lawyer, Mr Ebeseni was also a former commissioner for environment in the state during the two-term administration of erstwhile Ondo Governor Olusegun Mimiko.
Speaking during his official return to the party, Mr Ebiseni noted that he had been far away from the PDP as a result of what he claimed to be an “assignment” given to him by the socio-political organisation to serve as its scribe.
“You will note that I have not been that much available in the party. It is due to the assignment given to me by Afenifere organisation to serve as its secretary general, which took much of my time,” he told the gathering.
The politician explained that he returned to the PDP as an agent of unity and peace, stressing that he had already consulted widely with the leaders and stakeholders of the party before he retraced his step.
Among those consulted, Mr Ebiseni revealed, was Mr Mimiko, who he noted played a very pivotal role in his sojourn and political life.
“During my period of consultation, I was in touch with my great leader, the former governor of Ondo State, Dr Olusegun Mimiko and I am glad that he expressed his readiness to lend his full weight behind the party.
“Dr Olusegun Mimiko made me a national delegate to the 2014 Confab while I also served as commissioner for environment under his government,” he added.
Receiving Mr Ebiseni and his supporters, the state chairman of the PDP, Fatai Adams, said his arrival would add value to the opposition party in the next year’s governorship election.
While noting that the PDP cannot lose any election in the state with the cooperation of all stakeholders, Mr Adams said, “If we work together as a united front, PDP will seamlessly dislodge APC in the next year’s gubernatorial election.”
