No fewer than 100 notable politicians from various political parties in Ondo state on Monday joined the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Iju/Itaogbolu, Akure North Local Government Area of Ondo State.
At the inauguration of Akure North Inter-party Campaign Committee, the new decampees pledged to work for the success of the PDP and its flag bearer, Eyitayo Jegede (SAN).
The event came ahead of the official flag-off of the party’s governorship campaigns, slated for September 5, in Akure, the state capital.
According to the defectors, they dumped the All Progressives Congress (APC), the Social Democratic Party (SDP), and the Allied Congress Party of Nigeria (ACPN), respectively to be part of the major opposition party.
They were received by the party’s governorship candidate, Eyitayo Jegede (SAN), the state’s party chairman, Mr. Fatai Adams; a former deputy governor of the state, Otunba Omolade Oluwateru, and a House of Representatives member (Akure North/South Constituency) Hon. Adedayo Omolafe, among other PDP leaders.
Speaking on behalf of the defectors, a former candidate for the House of Assembly election for ACPN, Mr Busuyi Alademehin, said they resolved to join the PDP and mobilise all their supporters to vote for the party, principally because of the personality of Eyitayo Jegede.
He said, “Jegede is a man who has always been in touch with the common people, especially those at the grassroots; and we believe that if we elect him as our governor, he will do all within his powers to alleviate our sufferings”.
Alademehin stated that although there had been move by APC to offer them tempting offers from the ruling APC, but they resisted them.
Alademehin said they were not ready to mortgage their existence and that of future generation, especially with total neglect they suffered in the past three and half years of those at the helm of affairs in the state.
Also at the occasion, a former PDP chairman in the state, Chief Ebenezer Alabi, used the occasion to openly denied a rumour that he had joined the deputy governor of the state, Mr. Agboola Ajayi, to defect to Zenith LabourParty (ZLP).
Alabi said people should stop bearing tales about him without clarifying from him.
According to him, “I remain a loyal PDP member. The fact that I worked for another candidate before the primary election doesn’t mean I must leave my party once my candidate could not win. I am fully with our governorship candidate, Eyitayo Jegede, and there is no going back,”
Welcoming the defectors, Jegede assured them of a level playing ground.
He said “PDP is a party that genuinely sets out to serve people, and so, wants more people in its fold.”
The Senior Advocate also reiterated his promises of giving the young ones quality and affordable education, providing free health services for pregnant women, nursing mothers and the elderly; and granting financial aids to petty traders and artisans, among others.
The PDP flag bearer also warned those plotting to invade Ondo State with mercenaries from other states with the aim of rigging the October 10 election to desist, stressing that the masses are determined to defend their votes.
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