Hon. Wole Akingbasote, a Chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Ondo, has urged the party National Working Community, NWC, to energize the party in order to deliver Ondo State side by side with Osun State.
Akingbasote in a statement personally signed on Friday, asserted that it will be a rewarding experience to have 3 States count in Southwest Nigeria, to join Oyo and Osun being ruled by the PDP.
He lamented that PDP is dying in Ondo State, noting that in his Local Government, over 63 members of the Party had crossed to the ruling APC on the watch of party elders.
The Idanre born Politician explained that 2024 Governorship Election beckons as the present PDP in Ondo State is not showing any progressive vital signs of political recovery.
The statement reads in part; “Only yesterday in my Local Government of Idanre, 63 members of our great Party crossed to APC on the watch of our elders.
“The NWC should be reminded that Idanre Local Government in the entire State of Ondo was the only local government that produced MHR in person of Honorable Festus Akingbaso to the green chamber in the midst of arm twisting of votes by the ruling party.
“To ensure I delivered my unit, I had to fly down from California to physically show up and garner support for Atiku and all the National Assembly candidates that contested on the platform of the PDP.
“Despite the fact that Idanre Local Government houses the present APC State Chairman in Ondo State, Engineer Adetimehin, our members are always hell bent at delivering for the PDP in every elections.
“All these efforts are currently being eroded as loyal party members are unable to get support and hope from Party leadership in Ondo State or NWC, as most activities are currently either frozen or stagnant.
“The 2024 Governorship Election beckons as the present PDP of today in Ondo State is not showing any progressive vital signs of political recovery.
“It will be a rewarding experience if NWC can energize the PDP base in Ondo State to deliver Ondo State side by side with Osun State to have 3 States count in the Southwest Nigeria.
“I hope this message get to the PDP leadership in Wadata. A stitch in time saves nine,” the statement added.
Meanwhile, ahead of the 2024 gubernatorial election, while interested aspirants in the ruling All Progressive Congress (APC) are planning to get the ticket of their party, Starnews Nigeria reported a month ago how the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Ondo State went on a political sabbatical leave for maintaining an unusual definite culture of silence.
At the time some APC aspirants, Lucky Aiyedatiwa, the state deputy governor, Barr Jimoh Ibrahim, the Ondo South Senator, Oladunni Odu, the Ondo State SSG, Olusola Oke, SAN, and the state commissioner for finance, Wale Akinterinwa, with a host of others were strategising to get their party ticket to succeed Akeredolu, Starnews Nigeria can report that the PDP in Ondo State is extremely cold ahead of the 2024 governorship election.
All Is Not Well With Ondo PDP!
In recent times, the PDP in Ondo state appears to be plagued by internal wrangling and disaffection of some members which had led to the increased defection of key chieftains of the party to the ruling APC.
Two months ago, Starnews Nigeria reported how a former House of Representatives candidate of the party, Dr Olumuyiwa Adu, popularly called ‘Adu Cubana’, depleted the camp of the PDP in Akure south when he opted to join the APC’s fold to ensure his followers got their share of good governance.
As if that was not enough, Starnews Nigeria reported how the immediate past Senator in Ondo Central Senatorial District, Ayo Akinyelure, had joined the ruling APC on the floor of the 9th Senate, leading to the exodus movement of his followers in Ondo State to the camp of APC.
Other leaders of the PDP that defected to the APC included executives of the party in four local governments, namely Akoko South-West, Akoko South-East, Akoko North-West and Akoko North-East in Ondo North Senatorial District.
Added to the list of defectors are Ondo Chairman of PDP Support Group, Bode Obanla, followers of the late lawmaker, Omolafe Adedayo, Elder Smart Oloye, Femi Omolafe, Femi Kolawole, a two-time councillor in Idanre Local Government, Felix Ogundairo, Funke Lawani, Sunday Afolabi, House of Representatives candidates, Olubunmi Adaramola, Johnson Kehinde, Fafunmilade Tilerewa, among others.
In Ondo South believed to be the stronghold of the party, the PDP is also losing weight. Some chieftains of the party like Banji Okunomo, a former gubernatorial aspirant, Solomon Bitire, a former council boss, Jossy Ehinmore, a chieftain of the party among four others had also joined the ruling APC in Ondo State.
Political observers who believed that the APC has not done enough to retain power in Ondo State are very concerned about the fate of the PDP and its chances in the 2024 governorship election. They are also worried that the PDP does not currently have any serious, strong, and active aspirants who have shown interest in the governorship race despite the public’s belief that it is the turn of Ondo South to produce the next governor of Ondo State.
Some PDP leaders in the state including some members of the state executives were also of the view that the leadership of the party in the state headed by Mr Fatai Adams cannot take the PDP to its promised land in the 2024 election.
They insisted that Hon Fatai Adam must resign to make the PDP a viable opposition party capable to challenge the candidate of APC come 2024, amid allegations of leadership failure and anti-party activities leveled against.
Some party leaders alleged that Fatai Adams is on the payroll of Hon. Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, a member of the Federal House of Representatives in Abuja, representing Akoko North East/Akoko North West Federal Constituency of Ondo State and the current Ministerial Nominee of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu led administration for Ondo State.
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