Scores of members of the Peoples Democratic Party and the Zenith Labour Party chapters in Ondo State have defected to the ruling All Progressives Congress.
The official defection took place at the APC secretariat in Akure, the state capital, on Wednesday.
The leaders of the defectors include a former member of the state House of Assembly, Mr Tomide Akinribido, a former House of Representatives candidate of the PDP, Mr Dare Aliu, Dr Felder Olatunji, Olu Falolu, Ayodele Ikumawoyi, Pastor Olatunde Felix, Chief Pius Akinrinmola, among others.
Receiving the defectors, the state chairman of the Ondo APC, Mr Ade Adetimehin, said the defection had further depleted the camp of the PDP, confirming that political heavyweights in the PDP had joined the progressive family.
Adetimehin stated that the PDP had turned to carcasses in the state. He disclosed that many of their chieftains were dumping the party for the ruling APC.
He said, “We just received the remaining pillars in Ondo PDP. The PDP is now a carcass in Ondo State. In Ondo APC, the party and the government are one. We work together in one accord. Having come to APC, there is no founder, no joiner. We will treat you equally in our wards and local governments. Come and display your capacity in the APC.”
Adetimehin, who congratulated the defectors on their new move, assured them that they would be treated equally with those already in the APC.
Speaking, one of the defectors and former PDP lawmaker, Tomide Akinribido, promised to work for the party to ensure victory for the APC in the forthcoming governorship poll.
“We will work to ensure victory. It is a landslide victory in Ondo West. I will promote cohesion within the party. We will work and cooperate with our leaders. We will work according to the dictates of the party.”
