Over 1,000 members of the ruling All Progressives Congress in Ondo State, on Wednesday, announced their defection to the Peoples Democratic Party.
The defectors, from the 208 wards and the 18 local government areas of the state, said they were ready to work for the governorship candidate of the PDP, Mr Agboola Ajayi, to win the November 16 governorship election.
Their promise did not, however, bother the Lucky Aiyedatiwa Campaign Organisation Foot Soldiers, as its spokesman, Mr Kayode Fasua, described the defectors as political jobbers who underwent dress rehearsal to please their paymasters.
NewsNow reports that the campaign for the governorship election in Ondo State, as announced by the Independent National Electoral Commission, began on June 19.
At a rally held at the Akure town hall on Wednesday, the defectors were received by Ajayi and the state leadership of the PDP.
Welcoming them into the party, Ajayi said there had been suffering, hunger and anger in the land, following the alleged maladministration of the APC-led government in the state.
The former deputy governor said if voted into power in November, he would provide the people of the state with a better alternative, saying the 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.
“We are working very hard to regain the state and we need to be strategic about it 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, same with members of our party. We will ensure that you benefit from every opportunity regarding the welfare of members without sentiments,” he said.
In his remarks, the State Chairman of the PDP, Mr Tola Alabere, said the umbrella of the PDP was wide enough to accommodate more members, as he assured the defectors of equal treatment and fairness.
“I am confident that his election will mark a rapid growth in the state and you are welcome to join this moving train as partners to reposition the state toward development,” Alabere said.
Speaking on behalf of the defectors, the former APC Organising Secretary in Akure South Local Government, Akinwande Fayinminu, said they decided to leave the ruling party following an alleged lack of internal democracy.
“The APC lacks internal democracy, a reason the party is factionalised. Since it came into power, leaders have not integrated many members. They are operating the party like an occult. We can’t stay in such a party any longer,” Fayinminu stated.
Fasua, however, waved off the strength of the defectors, saying they were rented.
“The crowd at the so-called PDP rally in Akure today was largely rented. This was amplified by the ugly spectre of people fighting over service money, after the jamboree.
“No doubt, campaigns are just starting and the happy people of Akure, who are impressed with the masses-oriented programmes of Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa, will troop out en mass to show gratitude once the APC campaigners mount the stump.
“Those who reportedly said hunger chased them from APC to PDP are mere political jobbers, who underwent dress rehearsal to please their paymasters.
“They will soon be seen lobbying to play the same role, using the other side of the coin, when another political party comes to town for campaigns,” he said.