EKITI: 7 PDP council chairmen dump party for APC

Seven serving local government chairmen and 42 councillors in Ekiti State Friday defected from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and joined the All Progressives Congress (APC).

The chairmen, alongside their supporters, were received by the state governor, Kayode Fayemi, during a rally held at the Fajuyi Pavilion.

They described Fayemi as a true leader who played inclusive politics and never victimised them since coming to power last year.

The council chairmen who dumped PDP were Ayodeji Daniel ( Ekiti West), Abiodun Dada (Ijero), Yemi Ayeni (Ikere), Tunde Aladegbami (Ido/Osi), Sikiru Ogundana (Ekiti East), Olubayode Okeya (Emure), and Yemi Owoeye (Efon).

Governor Fayemi was represented at the rally by his Chief of Staff, Hon. Biodun Omoleye. Other party chieftains present include the state APC Chairman, Barrister Paul Omotoso and APC Southwest Zonal Publicity Secretary, Rt. Hon. Oladapo Karonwi.

READ ALSO: $9.6BN P&ID LIABILITY: Nigerian govt deposits $200m with British court

The vice-chairmen and councillors in the seven councils also defected to APC just as some commercial motorcyclists and mining association members formally joined the party.

All the seven council chairmen who addressed the gathering one after the other promised to work hard for their new party in future elections.

They expressed gratitude to Fayemi for restoring them back to office after they were removed from office by the immediate past Assembly, a development they said had not happened in the history of the state.

One of the chairmen, Ogundana advised the remaining local government chairmen still in PDP to accept the reality and cross over to APC which he described as the party Ekiti people are in love with

APC zonal spokesperson Hon. Karonwi said the defectors have taken the best decision “by quitting PDP whose governance structures have collapsed irretrievably.”

The APC chairman, Barr Omotoso on his part promised that they would not be discriminated against as they will enjoy same privileges with old members.

He said: “Nobody is a latecomer in our party, we are ready to accommodate you.

“You have seen the light and you will never go back to darkness again and together, we will move Ekiti forward

“I want to say that our doors are still open to those who are still in opposition to join us, come over to APC the party of the people.”

Omotoso said APC would give them a better platform to contribute to Ekiti development. He urged them to join hands with the Governor in taking Ekiti to greater heights.

Join the conversation

Opinions

Support Ripples Nigeria, hold up solutions journalism

Balanced, fearless journalism driven by data comes at huge financial costs.

As a media platform, we hold leadership accountable and will not trade the right to press freedom and free speech for a piece of cake.

If you like what we do, and are ready to uphold solutions journalism, kindly donate to the Ripples Nigeria cause.

Your support would help to ensure that citizens and institutions continue to have free access to credible and reliable information for societal development.

Donate Now