Mogaji Joseph Olasunkanmi Tegbe, the Senatorial candidate of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) for Oyo South has commended the step taken by some loyalists from his former political party as he further swelled the ranks of the ruling party by pulling the Leaders of the All Progressive Congress (APC) in the Ibadan Zone, Alhaji Bashiru Ajibade and thousands of APC members to join the PDP.
According to Tribune, the epoch-making event which took place at IMG school, Eleta, also signalled the defection of prominent stakeholders like Alh Abass Najeemdeen Gbayawu, Alh Bolaji Akinyemi Kosigiri, Engr Kayode Arowolo (Former APC Chairman, Ibadan Southeast Local Government), Barrister Rotimi Okeowo, former Aspirant APC; Prince Olumuyiwa Akingbade Akinbiyi, Alhaji Bidemi Kareem, Alhaji Saheed Adanla, Princess Ramat Adeyemi, Tunde Akintola and other leaders who joined the PDP.
Speaking on behalf of the defecting leaders, Prince Olumuyiwa Akinbiyi, who was elected chairman of the party at the last congress, noted that they were dissatisfied with the manipulations of Congress and primary election results by a cabal which hijacked the party in the state.
He affirmed that they were leaving APC with the majority of its members in the local government to support the Senatorial ambition of Mogaji Joseph Olasunkanmi Tegbe and the re-election bid of Governor Seyi Makinde.
The new PDP members were received on behalf of Governor Seyi Makinde by Chief Bayo Lawal, the Director-General for Seyi Makinde Gubernatorial campaign, and the Executive Chairman of Ibadan South East LG, Emmanuel Alawode and Kazeem Adeniyi Bibire, Special Adviser to the Governor on Local Government and Chieftaincy Matters.
Former Chairman of Ibadan South East LGA, Alhaji Najeem Gbayawu noted that many of them had never thought of leaving the APC, but had to do so in honour of Mogaji Tegbe who had been their pillar of support in their former party. He thereafter requested a motion for members of the Achievers group to join PDP and the motion was duly moved and unanimously supported by members.
