Dozens of All Progressives Congress (APC) members in ward one, Ore town, in Odigbo local government of Ondo state on Saturday defected to the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the state, ahead of the November 16 governorship election in the state.
The defectors were led by a chieftain of the APC in the area, Alhaji Yusuf Abdulateef and his supporters, said they left APC because of the bad leadership and governance in Ondo State and Nigeria.
Abdulateef said the defection signifies the freedom from bondage and pledged to work for the victory of the PDP candidate, Hon. Agboola Ajayi, and assured that more APC members in the local government would join the party before the election.
He said he moved into the PDP with all his supporters across Odigbo local government, numbering over five thousand to join force with the PDP members to deliver the state from the bad governance, which has been breeding hunger, hardship, poverty, and lack of democratic principles and reward systems .
He said, “They tried to bend us to stay in their party , offering millions of naira in the last few days but I resisted them because I am for the masses and the masses are suffering the effect of bad governance in Ondo State.
“What is the essence of me taking their money and all my supporters, thousands of them continue to live in poverty and hunger, I won’t go in such direction , we believe Agboola Ajayi has the experience and the credentials to redirect the ship of Ondo State to prosperity that’s why we decided to join him in PDP so that together we can liberate Ondo State.”
The popular Muslim cleric who anchored the campaign drive of Senator jimoh Ibrahim for Senate in Ondo South Senatorial District, said he has arrived into the PDP to ensure victory for Ajayi in the next governorship election in the state.
Welcoming the decampes to the PDP, the chairman of Ondo PDP campaign council, Olorogun Eddy Olafeso, commended them for their bold decision to move with the train of development.
Olafeso who announced the appointment of Alhaji Sheu Agba as the Chairman, Mobilization, Ondo South Senatorial District of the campaign council, noted that Ajayi remains the most qualified and competent to take the state to the promised land.
He urged the people of the state to support and vote for PDP, describing their joining the party as a good development and a major boost for the PDP, noting that it signified the end of APC in Ore and Odigbo communities.
According to him, “a vote for Agboola as the governor is a move towards development of the state as PDP and Agboola is again poised for more development.”
In a similar development, the leadership of the PDP also received members of the APC in Ajue community into the party with a promise not to sideline the new members in all areas.
The new members were received into the party by Hon Clement Faboyede who enjoined them to be steadfast in the party stressing that PDP reward system does not recognize maybe you are a new or old member but your work will earn you your reward in the Party.
Other notable leaders present at the occasion apart from the flag bearer of the Party , H E Agboola Alfred Ajayi includes , Rt (Hon) Bakita Bello, Chairman Caretaker Committee , PDP , Ondo State, Hon Clement Faboyede, a Director General in the campaign council, Engr Ademulegun, Lady Lydia Olafunmiloye , Dr (Mrs) Lovelyn Yemi-Ese , Hon Rasheed Elegbeleye , Ayo Fadaka and others.
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