Chieftains of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) in Ondo State have left the party to join the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ondo.
The development comes scarcely three months prior to the gubernatorial election coming up in the state, exactly, on November 16.
At an event held in Ondo town, the headquarters of Ondo West Local Government of the state, state Lead Representative, Mr. Lucky Aiyedatiwa who embraced the defectors to the camp of the ruling party, asked members of the ruling party to welcome them as members of the same party and not to discriminate against them.
Addressed by the Secretary to the State Government, Mr. Tayo Oluwatuyi, the Lead Representative likewise said the defectors had taken the correct decision to join the ruling party, boasting that the APC was the only political party that could win the forthcoming political race.
“They have come to us now, please our leaders, let us support them and their supporters. There should be no rejection because politics is about numbers and the accommodation of different ideas. Let us all join hands together; he is a good gentleman,” the governor urged.
Likewise speaking, the leader of the defectors and former SDP House of Assembly candidate in the 2023 general political race, Mr. Azeez Ademoloye, said they went with the decision to join the APC, communicating that the party was the only party that could win the political race, and they needed to be part of the victorious team.
He said, “I contested in the platform of SDP in the 2023 General Election as a House of Assembly candidate. I made several consultations and I realised that APC is the only party that can take Ondo State forward.
“As you can see, I have a lot of people, if not thousands, that are leaving our former party. So, I so much believe in this party and I know I will add a lot of value to it.”
In his comments, the member of the House of Representatives representing Ondo West/ Ondo East Federal Constituency, Mr Abiola Makinde, said that APC was enthused about the massive defection to the party, adding that it was showing that the party was on the ground, making great impacts in the state.
Makinde made sense of the fact that the calibre of individuals such as Ademoloye were more required in the party to accomplish the party’s dreams in getting to the promised land, noting that the leader of the defectors was an exceptional and successful entrepreneur that would impact positively in the lives of youths in the party.
