Scores of Leaders and members of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the Zenith Labour Party (ZLP) have joined the All Progressive Congress (APC) in Ondo State.
The defectors were received into the party by the acting chairman, Engr. Ade Adetimehin, and handed them over to the leader of the party in the state, Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, SAN.
The decampees were led by former National Youth Leader of PDP and former Executive Chairman of Ose local government, Arole Dennis Alonge-Niyi; Former Executive Chairman of Akoko SouthEast Local Government Council, Hon Akin Aibinuomo; Former Financier and Leader of PDP in Irele Local Government Area, Prince Thompson Atayase; Alhaji Ilesanmi Jamiu and Chief Aladejebi .
Welcoming the defectors into the party, Governor Akeredolu assured them of a level playing ground, stressing that no founder, no joiner.
The Governor declared that there is room for many and more, adding that the new members will be integrated into the party without discrimination.
“I want to plead with our party leaders, we must not discriminate. They have become members of our party and we must only integrate them. Let us find a way to accommodate them so they will feel integrated. No founder, no joiner,” Governor Akeredolu said.
The acting chairman, Engr. Adetimehin, disclosed that the APC remains the best party in the state, noting that Governor Akeredolu has turned the fortune of the parry around positively.
He said: ”Governor Akeredolu has turned the fortune of this state around. He has turned this state into an industrial state. Before his arrival, the state was a civil servant state. Look at the industries at the ore Industrial hub. Since he came in board, he has constructed over 400 kilometers of roads. My town, Idanre, is a beneficiary.
“Since Ose Local Government Area was created, no General hospital, but today, there is a very big standard hospital. This party is performing. Mr Governor is performing. In ore today, there is a gigantic flyover. Go to Oke Alabojuto, it was a hilly road. Gaga, there are networks of roads.
“Today, Ondo state is the only state in Nigeria that is having three universities standing. Before he assumed office, in the whole Southwest, Ondo state is the only state without a teaching hospital. Today, he’s building two giant teaching hospitals. He has made legacies.”
In their separate remarks, the defectors said they were attracted into the party by the outstanding achievements of the Governor.
Arole Dennis Alonge-Niyi said: ”Your achievements are number one thing that appealed to us. You came in when the resources coming to the state is meager. We have seen what you have been able to do in transforming the nooks and crannies of the state.
“We see your agenda as agenda that unites the people of Ondo state. You have a general agenda for the overall well-being of the people of the state. I mentioned the quality of your work in Ondo State. These are our attestation to the quality of your leadership.
“You know where we are coming from. And that’s the PDP. It has raised some of us from the state to national level. It is unfortunate that today, the vulture has taken over the party. We have looked round and the redemption is not coming so soon.
“Not with the type of the intimidating achievements you have recorded in Ondo State. Our hope is not in the tribunal, our hope is in you.”