Akure Community Agog as 1000 Dump PDP, Others for APC
No fewer than 1000 members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and other political parties on Friday ditched their different parties, defecting to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), in Akure East Local Council Development Area of Ondo State.
The defection rally, which took place amid pomp and ceremony in Oda community, according to observers, has sounded the death-knell for the opposition camp in the area, thus boosting the chances of Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa in the coming governorship election.
Receiving the defectors, Chairman, Transition Committee of Akure East LCDA, Barrister Kayode Taiwo Samson, said the impressive gathering was a manifestation of how the people, regardless of political affiliations, valued the various achievements of Aiyedatiwa in only nine months in office.
“This massive defection, from what we gathered, is as a result of the various social amenities and empowerment programmes executed for our communities by our kind-hearted governor, without being prodded by anyone.
“These amenities include road projects, provision of street-lights, enhanced security apparatus, and the award of water-supply projects to cover the whole Ondo Senatorial District, among many others.
“Besides, the governor has set aside a sum of N2bn as soft loan to petty traders, peasant farmers, and various entrepreneurs, to boost businesses from which our people have either benefitted or are potential beneficiaries,” he lauded.
The council boss, who is also a leading member of Lucky Aiyedatiwa Campaign Organisation Foot Soldiers Independent Council (LACO-FSIC) in the state, in welcoming the new APC members, assured them of equal privileges due to all party members.
On the occasion, the Secretary to the Ondo State Government, Hon Tayo Oluwatuyi, aka Tuycana, urged the new entrants to the party to join in the ongoing house-to-house campaigns to secure victory for Governor Aiyedatiwa in the November 16 election, “to enable us all reap more dividends of democracy under Governor Aiyedatiwa’s leadership”.
Also on hand to receive the defectors were the Ondo State APC Chairman, Engnr. Ade Adetimehin; APC Ondo Central Senatorial District’s Leader, Hon. Festus Aregbesola, and the Ondo State Commissioner for Physical Planning and Urban Development, Hon. Gbenga Olaniyi, among other top party chieftains.
Leading the defectors to the APC, a former stalwart of the PDP, Hon. Niran Alayaiye, remarked that the people had been set free from a somewhat bondage, and can now enjoy freedom; even as he commended the enabling environment for progress, provided by the Aiyedatiwa administration.
Alayaiye, a former House Leader in Akure South Local Government, on the occasion, donated a Hummer bus to Akure East LCDA, to ease its operations.
(E-signed)
Kayode Fasua,
State Information Director,
LACO-FSIC