ODUDUWA NEWS reported yesterday the news of the defection of the former gubernatorial aspirant of APC in Oyo State, Chief Joseph Tegbe to PDP.
It was confirmed to us that Tegbe had earlier been pencilled down to replace Chief Bisi Ilaka a frontline aspirant of the Oyo Central Senatorial District before some notable personalities in the State moved and lobbied the State Governor to thwart the plan in the last of minute.
The recent move of the Chieftain of All Progressives Congress, Joseph Tegbe was said to have been facilitated by a former Speaker of Oyo State and closed ally of Engr. Seyi Makinde, Alh. Monsurat Sunmonu who had perfected the deal of replacing Ilaka for Tegbe as the aspirant of Oyo Central Senatorial District being part of the terms of the agreement in the defection plan.
Meanwhile, Chief Bisi Ilaka having got the clue of been edged out of the senatorial race made a last minute move to save his Senatorial ambition by lobbying some traditional rulers and eminent personalities in the State to beg Gov Makinde to allow him flag the PDP Senatorial ticket return. Series of meeting confirmed to have held to that effect with Gov Makinde who was later persuaded to leave the ticket for Ilaka by making him realize that the collection of the ticket at the last minute would be a total disgrace to Ilaka and may see to the end of his political career.
Makinde in his magnanimity later succumbed to the pressure and yielded to the plea and later gave nod to party leaders to persuade Joseph Tegbe to move to Oyo South and use Oyo South Senatorial ticket as a replacement to the incumbent Senator, Kola Balogun believed by party members to have performed below expectations.
Sources said there is still ongoing unresolved meeting as to whether the camp of Senator Kola Balogun will take it lightly with the Governor on the move to hijack the ticket from him and hand it over to the recently defected Chieftain of APC, Joseph Tegbe.