In preparation towards the 2023 general elections, Ibadan, the political headquarters of the Southwest was locked down on Wednesday as political heavyweights from the region dumped their former political parties and officially declared their unalloyed loyalty to the People’s Democratic Party, PDP.
All the defectors were received into the party at the Mapo Hall arcade by the National Chairman of the party, Prince Uche Secondus during the PDP Southwest Zonal Unification Rally.
In his speech, Secondus, who was ably represented by the PDP Deputy National Chairman, South, Elder Yemi Akinwonmi, said it’s about time the PDP in the Zone embrace unity so as to position the party for the election coming up in Ondo state later in the year as well as the 2023 general elections.
Speaking at the PDP Southwest Zonal Unification Rally, the Oyo state Governor, Engineer Seyi Makinde, promised to provide a level playing field to all the former members who returned to the party and those that just joined PDP from other political parties.
The Governor, however, said the PDP is already benefitting from the internal squabbles rocking the All Progressives Congress, APC, adding that the unification rally has sent a strong signal to the APC that it has lost its footholds in the Southwest region.
Notable personalities among the defectors who returned to the PDP include a former Governor of Osun State and National Secretary of the PDP, Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola; former federal lawmaker and Deputy Governor of Oyo State, Ambassador Taofeek Arapaja; former Secretary to the Osun State Governor, Alhaji Fatai Akinbade; former Gubernatorial aspirant from the African Democratic Congress in Oyo State, Remi Oseni; former PDP Deputy National Chairman (South), Chief Olabode George and a host of other political gladiators.
Speaking on behalf of the defectors, Prince Olagunsoye Oynloa hinged his defection from the APC to the deceit the party is identified with.
The former Governor knocked the ruling party at the center for not keeping to the promises made to Nigerians prior to the 2015 general elections.
He noted that the APC rode to power promising to restructure the country only for the party to make a u-turn on restructuring the country.
Notable PDP stalwarts at the Unification Rally were, the immediate past Governor of Ekiti State, Ayodele Fayose; former Deputy Governor of Osun State, Olusola Obada; PDP National Chairman, South, Elder Yemi Akinwonmi; Southwest Zonal Chairman, Eddy Olafeso, amongst others.
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