Ahead of the November 2024 gubernatorial election in Ondo state, the Peoples Democratic Party, (PDP) on Thursday welcome to it’s fold, over 5000 members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Social Democratic Party (SDP) from Akoko North East.
The SDP candidate in the immediate past House of Assembly election, Mr Aliu Adeniyi Arikuyeri led over 2000 Members of SDP in the Local govt to the PDP, while leaders of over five groups in APC, also led their members out of the party to the PDP in the same council area.
One of the five groups , Movement for Democratic Change in APC, led by the brother to incumbent national lawmaker, Senator, Jide Ipinsagba from Ondo North , Olafimihan Ipinsagba, led over 1000 APC members across Ondo North Senatorial District to the PDP, even as members of APC’s Hausa Community in the area also declared their support for the PDP.
According to them, they are leaving the ruling party because it has become synonymous with hardship.
They registered their unwillingness “to continue to be part of the ruling party, especially now that we have identified the PDP and it’s gubernatorial candidate, Agboola Ajayi, as the saviour, who can take this hardship we are experiencing away from us” submitted Mallam Amir Arzika, who spoke for the Hausa Community decampees.
Other defecting groups at the Thursday crossover event, include the Fulani community from APC to PDP led by Aminat Babatunde, The Goskoniko group of youths in APC led by Ahmed Ibitoye,
Hausa Community in APC led by Hajia Mariam, Ijaya group led by Jamiu Ogedengbe as well as the Igomina group, led by Temitope Saliu which also defected from the APC to the PDP. All decampees are card carrying members of APC and SDP.
At the grand defection event, Hon
Stephen Olemija , former House of Reps member who recently decamped to the PDP from the APC ,was on ground to welcome the new decampees to their new party.
He urged the new members to be loyal and be committed members adding that, experience has shown him since he became a member of the PDP that, the party thrives on democratic principles.
He said the PDP rewards loyalty and good party camaraderie, which he said every member must imbibe, before the party could take over government in the state ” because we need unity, dedication and untainted commitment to ensure that our party gets to government, to rescue our sinking state”
The decampees who were welcomed and accepted into the party by the Gubernatorial candidate of PDP in Ondo State , H E Agboola Alfred Ajayi were advised to give their all to the party in the coming Gubernatorial election saying PDP is d most organised party in Nigeria and ready to reward loyalty anytime anyday.
He further said as they come into the party today , they have equal rights with other members of the party.
