Ahead of the November 16 governorship election in Ondo State, hundreds of members of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) from Akure South Local Government defected to the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) over the outcome of the primary election that produced Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa as candidate.
The former members of APC from different political wards in the state capital said the party lacked internal democracy over the running of the affairs of the party.
The defectors led by Mayowa Ajemoju Boboye popularly called Katike drummed support for the governorship candidate of the PDP in the state, Hon. Agboola Ajayi.
Aside from Boboye, other defectors included leadership and members of the party from wards and local government level. They included the APC Ward 8 leader, Deborah Owosusi, Ademola Ayonijebu, Oloro Alejo, and Azeez Ibrahim who led the Ebira group
At the reception organised for the new members, which took place at Akure Town Hall, in the state capital, the defectors hinged their defection to the bad leadership of the APC which had brought more hunger and hardship to the state.
Speaking on behalf of the defectors, the former APC organising Secretary in Akure South, Akinwande Fayinminu, said the unending deceit and deception within the APC has not only continued to cause more harm to their personal development as politicians but said it is dangerous for the entrenchment of internal democracy within a political party.
His words “The APC lacks internal democracy, that is why they are factionalised, since they came to power they have not integrated many members of the party. They are operating the party like an occultic group. We can’t stay in such a party any longer.”
Boboye, an erstwhile APC chieftain in Akure South, noted that APC had brought more hunger and hardship to the state.
According to him ” There is more hunger in the land and they have failed to attend to this. The popularity of the party in the state is waning gradually and we have to look back and return home to join forces with PDP to rebuild the state”
The party’s governorship candidate, Ajayi, noted that there is a lot of suffering, hunger, and anger in the land over the maladministration of the APC-led government in the state.
He, however, said his administration if voted into power was ready to provide the people of the state with a better alternative, saying PDP is ready to reposition the state. He urged the new entrants to join hands with other members and canvass for the PDP to win back the state.
The former Deputy Governor said people should not be afraid of manipulation of the forthcoming election saying nobody can rig election in the state. He told the people to come out and vote and make sure their votes counted.
His words “We are working very hard to regain the state and we need to be strategic about it to emerge victorious in the November 2024 election because the people of the state are looking up to us.
“As new members, I assure you of all rights accrued to the rest of our members. We will ensure that you benefit from every opportunity regarding the welfare of members without sentiments.”
The state chairman of the party, Hon. Tola Alabere, said the umbrella of the PDP is wide enough to accommodate more new members, assuring the defectors will be treated equally with other members of the PDP.
He assured that the party and its candidate would work towards accelerated development in the state if elected in the November 2024 governorship election.
Alabere said “I am confident that his election will mark a rapid growth in the fortunes of the state and you are welcome to join this moving train as partners to reposition the state towards development.