Ahead of the the Nov. 16 governirship election in Ondo State, the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) has recorded massive sudden departure as party bigwigs leaves in droves to the All Progressives Congress (APC).
The latest exodus of no fewer than 29 party bigwigs who are the political allies and associates of former Gov. Olusegun Mimiko may indirectly sunk the party ahead of the governirship poll.
Newspread247 reports that the 29 PDP bigwigs are: Hon Joseph Akinlaja, Rt Hon Jumoke Akindele, Engr Gboye Adegbenro, Hon Kolade Akinjo, Hon Gboluga Ikengboju, Chief Alaba Lad Ojomo, Engr Jide Adejuyigbe and Barr Tunde Atere.
Others includes: Hon Ebenezer Alabi, Hon Ajani Oladipo, Yeyeoge Funmilola Oluwadare, Com. Solomon Adelegan, Com. Femi Bosede, Chief Yele Ogundipe, Com. Dayo Akinte, Dr Dapo Iwala, Mr Femi Ofakunrin and Mr Olumide Olugbebi.
The remaining are: Ms Omowumi George, Mr Gbenga Aro, Alhaji Rauf Ogunsola (Arowasi), Ms Taiye Afilaka, Hon Adetimehin Badeji Jacob, Dr Felix Kehinde, Com. Babatunde Sobande, Hon Idowu Ogunmade, Mr Olanrewaju Longe, Mr Abiodun Temenu and Mr Eni Akinsola.
In a statement jointly signed by the leaders, they said their decisions to resigned from the PDP to Join APC was informed by the need to be part of an processes that would lead to the re-election of Gov. Lucky Orimisan Aiyedatiwa in the Nov.16 poll.
They also said that the reason to join the APC was the obvious effort to reposition the state on the path of continous prosperity and peace of the state
The added that another reason for joining APC was 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.
According to the statement, We the undersigned citizens of Ondo State, associates of the former Gov. Mimiko, and political leaders in our own rights, after series of consultations and discussions resolved to join and have joined the APC, most of us having resigned from the 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. Ayedatiwa as governor of Ondo State.
“The need to be part of an obvious effort to reposition our state on the path of continous prosperity and peace; and the need to contribute to the efforts of the 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 decision 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.
“We agree that our nation is facing some challenges that are as a result of cummulative errors of the past as well as direct unavoidable consequences of efforts to correct them by the current president.
“We, however, are firm in our believe that a committed dedication to the path of reforms as being pursued by the President will definitely take our country out of the woods. Hence our decision to be part of the solution rather than being part of the problem.
“We have in the past few days been mobilising our colleagues, friends and associates to join the APC across the state and be part of the progress and development that our state and nation is headed for.
“We do not boast of any magic wand but are ready to commit time and energy to the growth and progress of the party we have chosen to join, a party that has consistently proved to be more open to new members and new ideas.
“We are committed to work within our new party for the collective good of all.
“We need to state that many more of our colleagues and associates will be joining in the days and weeks ahead for the same reasons identified above.
“We add that flowing from our interactions with Gov. Ayedatiwa and the Chairman of the APC, Hon Ade Adetimehin, the date and time of an official welcome programme will be announced soon, the statement read.