Ekiti Lawmaker dumps PDP, decamps to APC

People ‘s Democratic Party (PDP) member in Ekiti State House of Assembly,
Hon. Olanrewaju Olayanju, has defected to the All Progressives Congress (APC).

The law maker representing  Emure constituency in Ekiti State cited cases of division and lack of decorum in the PDP to justify his action.

Olarewaju who spoke  with journalists in Ado Ekiti on Thursday,  stated that he took the action because the PDP was no longer a vehicle under which the dream of making his constituents better can be realised  .

He was accompanied by the Speaker of the House of assembly, Hon Adeniran Alagbada, the State chairman of All Progressives Congress (APC), Barrister Paul Omotoso, and his Deputy, Hon Sola Elesin.

He described the suspension slammed on seven members of the assembly , including himself, by the PDP State working committee as exercise in futility, saying only the National Working Committee can exercise such power .

The Gboyega Oguntuase led SWC had last week suspended the lawmakers for alleged anti party activities.

Olanrewaju , chairman, House Committee  on Environment, said: “I was not coerced by anybody  to join APC. I joined on my own.”

“When I wanted to start politics, I began with PDP and now that the party had shattered, I have to move to a better party”.

He said he did not join APC because of fight over return ticket, declaring that he was no longer interested in representing a party that has been personalised by an individual.

“I have reflected deep on the whole situation and I have informed my constituency that my interest and the interest of my people can no longer be achieved in the PDP.

“The party is now in disarray , no leader to rally the party together. The  leaders have destroyed the party through naked use of powers. The party is fictionalised  and some leaders are saying members should vote for opposition candidates.

“Also, since Governor Kayode Fayemi came on board, he has initiated  projects that make people happy. On this strength , I, Hon Olanrewaju Olayanju hereby declare my total loyalty to the APC-led government and the party with immediate effect.”

The lawmaker added that he will work assiduously for the success of President Muhammadu Buhari and other APC candidates in the coming elections.

In his response, the Speaker, said the fact that former governor Ayodele Fayose campaigned against the  senatorial candidate of the party in the southern district, Senator Biodun Olujimi was enough reason for people to leave the PDP.

He said he has no reason to declare Olanrewaju’s seat vacant, saying he has not breached any law to warrant such.

“When I defected to APC even when Fayose was still the governor, my seat was not declared vacant. Once a party can no longer protect your interest, the best one can do is to go to a better party.

“Our colleague has bid the PDP, the land of Egypt bye bye and he will no longer return there”.

Justifying the defection, the State  Chairman of the party, Omotoso said cross-carpeting is allowed in the legislative arm, saying all he needed for him to justify his action was a proof of division in the former party, PDP.

“As we speak, we have Fayose’s and Olujimi’s faction. The party has not recovered from its crisis. It is not a provision of the law that there must be a secretariat of the other faction before you can decamp.

“The constitutional provision as to what constitutes a division in a party was ambiguous. It doesn’t mean that a faction of a party must have a Secretariat, because division can come in diverse ways.”

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