Wilson Adekumola
A former lawmaker, Adeyinka Banso, of the Peoples Democratic Party in Ondo state, has defected to the ruling All Progress Congress.
Banso who led other chieftains of the party to decamped to APC, stressed that the PDP leadership in the state has lost direction.
Those that defected alongside the former member of the state House of Assembly, include, former council chairman , Dele Fagoriola, Charles Adedare, Femi Akinwehinmi and Onibalusi Boro.
The state party chairman , Ade Adetimehin was on ground to receive them in Akure, the state capital .
Banso, explained that from the moment PDP picked the flag bearer from the north they had decided to discard the party because it was a breach of agreement.
He said, “We are here to declare our unreserved and total commitment to APC. We declare total loyalty to our party leader, our governor, Arakunrin Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, SAN, and our party Chairman, the Jagaban of Ondo politics, Engr. Ade Adetimehin.
“Our quest to drop visionlessness informed our defection to the progressive party.
“If I stay in PDP, I won’t get the opportunity to represent my people to do what will be beneficial to them.
Joining APC, I can heave a sigh of relief.
“The moment my party picked a candidate from the northern extraction,because it’s a breach of agreement to me, this is not fair. I started thinking of moving to APC.”
The state chairman of the party, Ade Adetimehin, while reacting to the defectors, he described them as stalwarts of the PDP who had greatly posed a threat to them every election.
Adetimehin, however, promised the defectors would enjoy equal treatment in the party like every other member.
“I am the most happy man today. These are shakers and movers of Ondo politics.
“Politics is about grassroots, these gladiators are grassroots politicians popular among their people
“These are men who usually gave us tough time in the various units, wards and constituencies during the elections.
They are going to add value to our party a great deal.
“With their defection, we are sure of winning the Assembly election in their various units, wards and constituencies.”
Adetimehin expressed optimism that the presence of the defectors would draw the remaining strong members of the PDP to APC before the end of the year.
He said, “We are happy to receive the new decampees from the PDP. With these brothers coming, we have set the ball rolling. Before the end of this year, we are going receive all leaders of PDP into our party. There will be no PDP again. Ondo State shall become a full-time APC state.
