Mimiko’s aides, associates defect to APC

No fewer than 29 chieftains of the Peoples Democratic Party in Ondo State have announced their defection to the All Progressives Congress in the state, ahead of the governorship election scheduled for November 16.

This was announced in a joint statement signed by the 29 defectors on Wednesday. The statement was titled ‘We Have Joined the APC.’

According to the statement, some of the defectors were chieftains who held various positions during the eight years of Olusegun Mimiko’s administration. They include a former Speaker of the State House of Assembly, Mrs Jumoke Akindele; a former Chief Press Secretary to Governor Mimiko; and three former members of the House of Representatives: Joseph Akinlaja, Victor Akinjo, and Chief Alaba Ojomo, among others.

The statement read, “We, the undersigned citizens of Ondo State, associates of the former Governor of Ondo State, Dr Olusegun Mimiko, and political leaders in our own right, after a series of consultations and discussions, have resolved to join the All Progressives Congress. Most of us have resigned from the Peoples Democratic Party.

“Our reasons for joining the APC can be summarised as follows: the need to be part of the processes that will lead to the election of Hon Lucky Orimisan Ayedatiwa as Governor of Ondo State; the need to be part of a clear effort to reposition our state on the path of continuous prosperity and peace; and the need to contribute to the efforts of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to directly address the challenges facing our nation and bring much-needed peace, equity, and progress to the states and the country at large.

“We acknowledge that there are local and personal factors underlying our decisions, either individually or as a group.

The fact that the PDP, as currently run, is not positioned for victory at either the state or national level makes our decision timely. We recognise that our nation faces challenges that are the result of past errors as well as the direct, unavoidable consequences of efforts to correct them by the current president.”

The defectors also noted that they have been mobilising their colleagues, friends, and associates to join the APC across the state in order to “be part of the progress and development that our state and nation are heading towards.”

“We need to state that many more of our colleagues and associates will be joining in the days and weeks ahead for the same reasons identified above. We add that, following our interactions with His Excellency Governor Lucky Orimisan Ayedatiwa and the Chairman of the APC, Hon Ade Adetimehin, the date and time of an official welcome programme will be announced soon.”