The camp of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Ondo State suffered set back as some leaders and members of the party in the state, including former National Youth Leader of the party and former Chairman of Ose local government, Hon. Dennis Alonge, dumped the party for the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in the state.
The decampees who attributed their resignation from the opposition party to internal crisis, tyranny and leadership failure of the PDP in the state, said the monumental achievements recorded by governor Rotimi Akeredolu led administration was responsible for their teaming up with APC.
Speaking on behalf of the new entrants, Alonge-Niyi said the Akeredolu led government has been transformed the state and set the state on the path of growth within the last four and half years at the helms of affairs.
He noted that the party has no hope in the case instituted by the PDP candidate, Eyitayo Jegede against the reelection of Akeredolu, saying there is no hope in the case being pursued by Jegede in court.
Alonge-Niyi, a prominent member of PDP who recently lost the state chairmanship of the party said: “We have all witnessed and seen unprecedented infrastructural development in the state carried out by Akeredolu’s government; in terms of massive road construction as well as the strengthening the agricultural sector.
”Your achievements are number one thing that appealed to us. You came in when the resources coming to the state is meager. We have seen what you have been able to do in transforming the nooks and crannies of the state.
“We see your agenda as agenda that unites the people of Ondo state. You have a general agenda for the overall well-being of the people of the state. I mentioned the quality of your work in Ondo State. These are our attestation to the quality of your leadership.
“You know where we are coming from and that’s the PDP. It has raised some of us from the state to national level. It is unfortunate that today, the vulture has taken over the party. We have looked round and the redemption is not coming so soon.
“Not with the type of the intimidating achievements you have recorded in Ondo State. Our hope is not in the tribunal, our hope is in you.”
While receiving the defectors at the newly renovated APC party Secretariat, the Acting Chairman of the party, Hon. Ade Adetimehin, before handing the new member to governor Rotimi Akeredolu, assured the defectors that they would be fully integrated into the party, maintaining that the party has the ability to accommodate everyone willing to join the party.
He stated that APC remains a party to beat in the state in any election because of the unprecedented achievements recorded by by the Akeredolu’s led government in the state which is responsible for the decision of the defectors to pitch their tent with APC.
Akeredolu while welcoming the defectors into APC fold said “I’m familiar with virtually all the decampees. We’ve had one or two interaction but God has ordained it that now is the right time for us to work together.
“There is room for more people to come to APC. I want to plead with our party leaders, we must not discriminate. They have become members of our party and we must only integrate them. Let us find a way to accommodate them so that they will feel integrated.”
However, the PDP in the state has described Alonge-Niyi and other defectors as mole working for the interest of APC while in PDP, saying Alonge-Niyi remarks on the leadership of the PDP in the states are comments from a frustrated person.
This was contained in a statement issued by the PDP Publicity Secretary, Mr. Kennedy Peretei, while reacting to Alonge-Niyi and other leaders of PDP defection, zaid Alonge-Niyi is suffering from hang-over of defeat.
Peretei said: ” During the October 10, 2020 Governorship Elections, Alonge-Niyi shamelessly worked for the APC’s Governorship Candidate. As a matter of fact, the logistics support for the elections was coordinated for the APC from his house.
“It is not only ridiculous and laughable for such a character to say he is defecting from the PDP, when indeed, he has been working with the APC all along.
” Such behaviour smacks of a person lacking in integrity and honesty. As far as the PDP is concerned, Dennis Alonge-Niyi had exited the party since 2020 on the strength of his anti-party activities.
“It is apparent that he still suffers from the hang-over of his miserable loss during the State Congress.”
