Politics

2019: Gbemi’s loyalist emerges Kwara chair of Raymond Dokpesi’s party

 

By Mumini AbdulKareem

Ahead of 2019 gubernatorial election in the state, a staunch loyalist of Senator Gbemisola Saraki, Engr Yinusa Afolabi, has emerged the Kwara State Chairman of the Action Democratic Party Alliance (ADPA), National Pilot can authoritatively report.
This is coming on the heels of report already making the rounds in the state that Gbemi Saraki may contest the forthcoming governorship election.
ADPA, is the brainchild of media mogul and former Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) chieftain, Raymond Dokpesi, which was recently registered by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) alongside four other new political parties for the 2019 election.
It was however not clear last night whether Afolabi’s decision has the backing of Senator Gbemi Saraki.
Efforts to get her to respond to the issue proved abortive last night as calls to one of her lines were not answered. Also, response to text messages sent to her was still being awaited before this paper went to press.
But Afolabi confirmed the development in a telephone chat with this medium, adding that the decision to leave the structure of the younger sister of the Senate President was “entirely personal”.
“Yes, I am now the state chairman of ADPA, this I can confirm to you and the reason is best known to me, But the GRS structure is still intact”, he submitted.
When asked why he will be working for another party under the structure of GRS, Afolabi declined comment and also did not state if he sought permission from Gbemisola before making the move.
“I have told you, this was my personal decision but if you want to get answers to some of your queries, please you have to speak with her yourself. Gbemisola is in the best position to answer these questions”, Afolabi added.
It was reliably gathered that Afolabi, at a meeting held on Sunday at the Surulere residence of former campaign manager of the Senator, Abubakar Olawoyin Magaji briefed some other loyalists on the new development alleging neglect and failure by Gbemisola to steady the GRS structure after the 2015 election.
A very reliable source who was conversant with the issue told this medium there is more to the defection, adding that it might be a “preparation for bigger things” to happen.
The source said that in the days ahead, Magaji’s office in Taiwo will be wearing a new look reflective of the colour of ADPA, adding that underground recruitment have already began for the project.
“This is a preparation for bigger things to come and it is part of political plot, permutation and calculation for 2019. As time goes on, the coast will continue to get clearer but for now, it is just to keep things low,”
Recall that Gbemi’s billboards urging the electorate to go and register for their voter’s cards to elect leaders were erected in strategic locations in Ilorin.
She directed her supporters to vote for the All Progressives Congress (APC) at the eve of the 2015 election following her ‘sore experience’ with the PDP during the 2015 election.

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