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Ex-Governor of Ondo State, Olusegun Mimiko, on Thursday officially defected to the All Progressives Congress (APC).

Mimiko, who governed Ondo State from 2009 to 2017, had resigned from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in April before announcing his decision to join the ruling party.

The former governor made the announcement at the APC Ward 7 Secretariat in Ondo West Local Government Area of the state.

Speaking at the event, Mimiko said his decision to join the APC was driven by his desire to contribute to the socio-economic and political development of the country, as well as support the re-election bid of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in 2027.

He acknowledged the economic challenges facing the country but expressed optimism that the policies and programmes of the Tinubu administration are laying a solid foundation for national development.

Welcoming Mimiko into the party, the Ondo State APC Chairman, Kolawole Babatunde, said the former governor’s defection would strengthen the party’s prospects in the state.
Babatunde praised Mimiko’s leadership qualities and his contributions to the development of Ondo State and Nigeria, adding that the party and the state governor were pleased to receive him into the APC.

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Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Barr. Nyesom Wike, on Thursday dismissed reports of an alleged alliance between the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the Allied Peoples Movement (APM), describing the claim as “Political 419.”

Speaking with journalists on Thursday, during an inspection of ongoing road projects in Gomani-Yangoje , Kwali Area Council, Abuja, Wike accused Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, of misleading Nigerians with claims of a PDP-APM alliance ahead of the 2027 elections.

“When I say people are fraudulent, they thought I was joking. And that’s the 419 we are talking about,” Wike declared.

He said both the PDP and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) were not aware of the existence of such alliance.

“There’s no alliance between PDP and Allied Peoples Movement (APM) or any other political party, as the case may be. INEC also knows that there’s nothing called PDP-APM alliance,” he stated.

According to him, ongoing political activities within the PDP, including the screening of aspirants, clearly showed that the party remained independent and had not entered into any coalition arrangement.

“PDP has presented a presidential candidate and watch out who will be submitted to INEC and see whether there’s anything called PDP-APM,” he added.

Wike further alleged that Makinde was pursuing his personal presidential ambition through the APM platform.

“What you have is Seyi Makinde joining APM to be able to actualize his presidential ambition, which is already dead on arrival,” the minister said.

He insisted that Governor Bala Mohammed had never spoken of any PDP-APM alliance, adding that the narrative was merely a political imagination.

“It’s unfortunate. We know that has been his game plan and we would say he cannot fly the flag of PDP,” Wike said.

The minister also reacted to comments credited to the Governor of Rivers State concerning his continued membership of the All Progressives Congress (APC), saying the governor has not told anyone to pity him.

“Sorry for what? Why are you saying problem when nobody has told you he has a problem?” Wike asked.

“The man has told you he still remains APC. So what is the problem now?”

He maintained that issues concerning the governor’s standing within the APC remained the party’s internal affair.

“Ask me about PDP, I will answer you. Because how will you ask me whatever happens? Assuming he has a problem, it’s their internal affairs,” he stated.

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Authentic Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, has slammed Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, noting that propaganda has an expiry date.

This is as the faction publicly disowned a political gathering in Ibadan, Oyo State, accusing Makinde of using a purported alliance with the Allied Peoples Movement to advance his political ambitions ahead of the 2027 elections.

The factional National Publicity Secretary, Jungudo Haruna Mohammed, during a press briefing on Thursday, said the party had no involvement in the Ibadan gathering being promoted as a PDP/APM alliance meeting.

“We have called this briefing to address the misleading narratives and deliberate falsehoods being circulated concerning the social gathering scheduled to be held today in Ibadan under the guise of an alliance between the Peoples Democratic Party and the Allied Peoples Movement.

“Let us state clearly and unequivocally that the PDP is not part of any alliance, coalition, agreement, or political arrangement with the Allied Peoples Movement or any other political party regarding this gathering or any related political activity.

“Any person or group claiming to be acting on behalf of the PDP in connection with this event is doing so without the knowledge, approval, consent, or authority of the party,” Jungudo said.

According to him, the Ibadan gathering had exposed what he described as Makinde’s real political direction.