Associates of the former governor of Ondo State, Dr Olusegun Mimiko, yesterday dumped the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and joined the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) ahead of the November 16th governorship election in Ondo state.
Those who dumped the former party in their large numbers included former commissioners, and former chief press secretary among other party chieftains.
In a statement signed and made available to GTN those that defected, said PDP as currently run is not being positioned for victory either at the state level or at the national level which make their decision most auspicious at this moment.
While saying that they decided to be part of an effort to reposition the state on the path of continuous prosperity and peace, they also disclosed that they need to contribute to the efforts of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to frontally tackle the challenges facing the nation and bring needed peace, equity, and progress to the states and the country at large.
The defectors are: Hon Joseph Akinlaja, Rt Hon Jumoke Akindele, Engr Gboye Adegbenro, Hon Kolade Akinjo, Hon Gboluga Ikengboju, Chief Alaba Lad Ojomo, Engr Jide Adejuyigbe, Barr Tunde Atere, Hon Ebenezer Alabi, Hon Ajani Oladipo, Yeyeoge Funmilola Oluwadare and Com Solomon Adelegan, among others.
According to them, “We the undersigned citizens of Ondo State, associates of the former Governor of Ondo State, Dr Olusegun Mimiko, and political leaders in our rights, after a series of consultations and discussions resolved to join and have joined the All Progressives Congress APC, most of us have resigned from the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP.
“Our reasons for joining the APC could be summarised as follows: the need to be part of the processes that will lead to the election of Hon Lucky Orimisan Ayedatiwa as Governor of Ondo State; the need to be part of an obvious effort to reposition our state on the path of continuous prosperity peace; and the need to contribute to the efforts of the President, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to frontally tackle the challenges facing our nation and bring needed peace, equity, and progress to the states and the country at large.
“We state that there are local and personal realities that also underlie our decisions either as individuals or as a group the fact that the PDP as currently run is not being positioned for victory either at the state level or at the national level makes our decision most auspicious at this moment.”
