Members of the ruling All Progressives Congress in Ondo State on Wednesday announced their defection to the Peoples Democratic Party.
The defectors, who are from the 208 wards and in the 18 local government areas of the state, said they were ready to work for the candidate of the PDP, Agboola Ajayi, so that he could win the November 16 governorship election.
The defectors were received by the PDP candidate and the state leadership of the PDP at the Akure town hall, Akure, the state capital on Wednesday.
Welcoming them into the party, the party’s governorship candidate said there is a lot of suffering, hunger and anger in the land following the alleged maladministration of the APC-led government in the state.
Ajayi, who is a former deputy governor of the state, said if voted into power in November, he would provide the people of the state with a better alternative, saying PDP was ready to reposition the state for the better. He urged the new members to join hands with other members and work for the PDP to win the forthcoming poll.
He said, “We are working very hard to regain the state and we need to be strategic about it in order to emerge victorious in the November 2024 election because the people of the state are looking up to us.
“As new members, I assure you of all rights accrued to the rest of our members. We will ensure that you benefit from every opportunity regarding the welfare of members without sentiments.”
In his remark, the state Chairman of the PDP, Tola Alabere, said the umbrella of the PDP was wide enough to accommodate more new members, assuring the defectors of equal treatment and fairness.
Alabere said, “I am confident that his election will mark a rapid growth in the fortunes of the state and you are welcome to join this moving train as partners to reposition the state towards development.”
Speaking on behalf of the defectors, the former APC organising Secretary in Akure South LG, Akinwande Fayinminu, said they decided to leave the ruling party due to a lack of internal democracy.
“The APC lacks internal democracy, that is why they are factionalised, since they came to power they have not integrated many members of the party. They are operating the party like an occultic group. We can’t stay in such a party any longer,” Fayimimu stated