The Social Democratic Party (SDP), Ondo State Chapter on Thursday 13th July 2023 held a stakeholders meeting with the party leaders of Ondo South Senatorial District which covers the local government areas of Ese Odo, Ilaje, Ile Oluji/Okeigbo, Irele, Odigbo, and Okitipupa.
The meeting, which was held as part of the party’s preparation for the forthcoming Local Government Elections across the state, took place at Okitipupa, Okitipupa Local Government Area of the State
While addressing participants, the party state chairman, Hon Stephen Adewale, expressed delight over the turnout of members despite all the challenges they faced before, during, and after the 2023 general elections.
Adewale said the purpose of the gathering was to have a round table discussion on the challenges facing the party and also the possible ways of moving the party forward.
He appreciated them for their selfless services, support, and love in gearing the party to the next level.
The chairman assured the party Chieftains that they would not relent in their efforts towards making the party an enviable one and a force to be reckoned with.
The leaders of the party at the various local governments discussed some of the problems facing the party at the gathering.
Most of the party leaders present at the meeting lamented that lack of finance had been the major source of non performance the party in the Senatorial District.
They appealed to the state executive members of the party to address the problem of finance.
Hon. Timothy Ayesuwa, who contested for Member House of Assembly, Okitipupa Constiruency II at the last election says “It is important for the party to come together, look out for the challenges the party is facing and seek how to grow it because the chairman and local government election is coming up. So, we have to dialogue, strategize how to bring the party to order and make sure we form the main opposition that we choose to be by talking about how we are going to lead the next coming election.”
He added that “we advise the whole party to be united and be of one mindset to achieve our aim. I believe that when we are united, we are going to stand firm. It is when we are divided that issues would arise. So, it is the unity of the party that is my priority, which I know we will achieve. “
Mr. IBOJO Olatunji, the party’s Deputy State Chairman, in his own words, said, “We give kudos to our state chairman because he is doing a great job in getting everybody together. Back then, SDP was merely all about negotiations, and ever since he emerged as the state chairman, nothing like that has happened. Everybody went for the election and tried their best and also looking forward to doing more.
Now, we are moving from all the senatorial districts to get everyone together, and SDP is moving forward.”
Also speaking, Hon. Jimi Akinyan, a candidate for the House of Representative in the last election for Ile oluji/Oke Igbo/Odigbo Federal Constituency says “We have to go out there and go back to our polling units to talk to people that are also in SDP and parties like APC, PDP and all other parties to let them understand that SDP is different from other parties, that SDP is the only party they can be belonged to and they can be adequately represented and get dividends of democracy. It is a party that understands the problems we are facing in Nigeria at the moment, unlike that of every other party that we have out there.
“We should give SDP the opportunity. Come next LG and the upcoming governorship election in Ondo state, we will ensure that the good people of Ondo State are adequately represented.”
Ondo State SDP Secretary, Mr. Aina Adebola reacted that “we have to put what happened in the last elections behind us reinvigorate our energy, bring back our members, recruit more members, and set ourselves up for the next local government election. This is achievable, and today, we all agreed that we are going to do the needful in order to make this great party of ours a suitable bride for the good people and every lover of progress in Ondo State