BAYO AGBOOLA from Ibadan writes that there is a mad rush by members of the opposition to join the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) but the defectors are hinging reasons for their defection on the good performances of the Seyi-Makinde government
It was a carnival-like event penultimate Thursday, October 13, 2022, at the Lekan Salami Stadium complex, when the ruling Peoples Democratic Party in Oyo state held
reception for some defectors from some of the opposition parties.
Highlights
Governor Seyi Makinde who was visibly elated could not hide his excitement when said: “Today, it was our pleasure to officially welcome defectors from APC, ADC, ZLP and other political parties into our great party, the PDP.”
The governor went ahead to speak about the campaign slogan of his party. “I also revealed that our official slogan for the election campaigns is Omituntun 2.0. Working together, we will ensure that there is continuity of good governance for the people of Oyo state”, he said.
Receiving the thousands of defectors from APC, ADC, ZLP, AD, others into PDP, Governor Seyi Makinde minced no words in assuring them of equal rights and privileges in the party.
He said Oyo state would witness what he called Omi Tuntun 2.0 after his re-election in 2023, symbolizing accelerated development and greater prosperity for residents of the state.
The governor emphasised that all the defectors would receive equal benefit accruals from the PDP and that all PDP members should be ready to work together to bring about victory for the PDP in all elections in 2023.
How Oyo PDP chair welcomed defectors
Welcoming the defectors, Oyo state Chairman of the PDP, Hon Dayo Ogungbenro, while appreciating the defectors for choosing the PDP, stated that the party “believes in equity”, emphasising that the defectors would not be marginalised in the PDP family.
According to Hon Ogungbenro, PDP in Oyo state remained the only party to beat in the state come 2023 general elections across the 33 local government areas of the state.
After effect of the defection
The consequence of the mass defection was that of a more politically charged atmosphere as news of welcome party organised by Makinde and the PDP for defectors filtered into the towns.
There was some sort of tension within the parties where defectors, mainly from the All Progressives Congress (APC), African Democratic Congress (ADC), Zenith Labour Party, (ZLP), Alliance for Democracy (AD) among others had ported.
ADC expels decamping chieftains
Amidst the news, the ADC leadership in the state came up with a statement purportedly announcing the expulsion of over 100 of its members including chieftains of the party over an alleged anti party activities.
Announcing the expulsion of the over 100 members in a statement signed by Oyo state ADC Chairman Adeoti Babatunde Aderoju and Publicity Secretary, Bimpe Adelowo, listed those affected.
In the statement, ADC said: “Our attention has been drawn to the activities and engagements some persons within Oyo state fold of our great party ADC- namely Senator Monsurat Sunmonu, Chief Michael Koleoso, Dr. Wasiu Olatunbosun, Hon. Niyi Adebisi, K.K. Obisesan, Mrs. Kareem Toyin, Mrs. Bunmi Olabode, Mr. Oni Michael, Musibau Adejare, Pastor S.P. Akintokun, Bola Amusat and other political appointees of the PDP government in Oyo and their loyalists who are still claiming the membership of ADC in Oyo state— whose activities amount to anti-party and also inimical to the interest of our great party in Oyo state.
“We have been following some events within Oyo state ADC since 24th December, 2021 when Senator Monsurat and Chief Michael Koleosho went to the media to declare their intention to dump our party in Oyo state, and this was followed by various engagements and activities that suggest that they have decided to make good of threat of severing their relationship with our party; of such events include their so called “thank you visit” on 28th January 2022 where they publicly declared their support for the second term bid of Gov. Seyi Makinde without any due consultation with National Headquarters of our great party.
“Also on 19th April, 2022 Dr. Wasiu Olatunbosun on behalf of other 93 political appointees addressed the press to effect that they have decided to move from ADC to PDP in Oyo.
“Thereto, on 25th May, 2022 Senator Monsurat Sunmonu led the above mentioned individuals and other political appointees to the Lekan Salami Sporting complex to visibly and actively participate in the Oyo state PDP governorship primary where Seyi emerged as the PDP candidate.
“Gentlemen of the press, from the foregoing, it is established that the activities and engagements of these individuals are nothing but anti-party activities, and since they could no longer serve the interest of the ADC in Oyo, we therefore announce their expulsion.”
The ADC spokesperson urged the members of the general public should stop relating with them as members (whether severally or jointly) of ADC in their various wards, local government Areas, and in Oyo state.”
Oyo ADC stressed, “it should be noted at this juncture that our great party has not gone into any alliance or coalition with any political party whatsoever in preparation towards 2023 general elections.
“We therefore advise the general public and our teeming members to disregard any such news and take it as unfounded rumour and one of the antics of the mischief. We equally state it here that our party in Oyo state is no longer and is not in any coalition or alliance with any political party whatsoever, and that no one has the authority of our party to drop the name of our party for such purpose.”
Oyo government reacts to ADC’s claim
Dismissing the claims by the ADC leadership, Oyo state Commissioner for Information, Culture and Tourism, Dr Wasiu Olatubosun also one of those listed by the ADC dismissed the purported expulsion disclosing that himself and others listed in the lists have left ADC since April this year and subsequently ported into the ruling Peoples Democratic Party, (PDP) in Oyo state
Dr Olatubosun maintained that the ADC leadership is not comfortable with the planned reception for defectors into PDP hence the move by those he termed “remnants” in Oyo ADC to resolve into antics towards discrediting the reception at the Lekan Salami sports complex in Ibadan.
Defectors explain reason for their action
A former Speaker of the Oyo state House of Assembly and one of the leading defectors from the ADC Senator Monsurat Sunmonu while speaking at the welcome parley said ADC benefitted from the alliance it entered into in 2019 with the PDP and Governor Makinde, saying, members of her team would work for the return of the governor in 2023.
Leader of the Liberation Alliance Movement and former Commissioner in the state, Pastor Taiwo Otegbeye, on his part said he was convinced to join the PDP by the good works of Governor Makinde, saying, “I needed no further convincing, having witnessed the tremendous developmental projects undertaken in the nooks and crannies of the state by the Makinde-led administration.
A leader in the Alliance for Democracy (AD) Pastor Alamu, while speaking for all the defecting AD members said that his party saw the need to work with Governor Makinde four years ago and that leaders of the party have decided to collapse the AD structure into that of the PDP and work for Makinde’s emergence in 2019.
Though the defection of some politicians from across Oyo state into the PDP has come and gone, the development has send another signal to the political scenario in the state as it will in no measure go a long way in determining which direction the Oyo state political compass would at last heads towards if the defection was sincere and not stage managed as often played out in Nigeria politics.
