Political loyalists of later Senator Buruji Kashamu and supporters of former governorship aspirant of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP in Ogun State, Otunba Jimi Lawal have defected to APC and endorsed governor Dapo Abiodun’s bid for second term on Sunday in Abeokuta, the Ogun state capital.
Notable among the detectors are – Alhaji Fasiu Ajadi, Chief Kola Adeyemi, also known as Kosigiri, former state women leader of PDP, Barr. Bimbo Balogun, Hon. kazeem Akorede Daodu from Ado-Odo-Ota, Alhaji Moruf Olajide, PDP Chairman, Abeokuta South, Chief Muyiwa Ojebiyi, PDP Chairman, Obafemi Owode LG among others.
The groups said they pulled out of PDP to support the second term bid of governor Abiodun due to intra-party crisis rocking the PDP, which led to over 160 litigations in court.
Leading the defectors drawn from the 236 wards in the state to APC on Sunday, Hon. Ola Kukoyi otherwise known as Kosigiri after the fallout of the PDP governorship primary, which produced Hon. Oladipupo Adebutu as the party’s governorship candidate.
Speaking at Itoko, Abeokuta South Local Government Area, Ola Kukoyi, noted that the group with a strength running into thousands across the state was determined to ensure that Abiodun’s second term ambition became a reality.
Mr. Kukoyi stressed that, Jimi Lawal remains the most qualified aspirant to lead the party, but some bad eggs in the PDP rigged him out.
He said the group no longer saw a future with the PDP in the state with over 160 unresolved court cases, adding that they can all see for themselves that Governor Abiodun remained the best candidate that the state would need for continued prosperity.
The PDP chieftain, who also commended the governor for embarking on the infrastructural development of the state, acknowledged his contributions towards the construction of an airport in the state.
“When our leader died, we decided we couldn’t be looking, we searched for a candidate that is presentable for the state, we picked Jimi Adebisi Lawal, we all know what is happening both from the national to the state level of PDP,
“The party is filled with legal matters, we have over 160 cases in court and that can’t take us anywhere, we’ve been out of government for over sixteen years now and we are all seeing the good things you’ve been doing.
“We can all see that since the state was created, the plane has not landed here before, and just last week, we saw two planes landing here in Ogun State, well done sir.
“We now decided to stand behind a person who means well for our state and therefore, we decided that the Joshua of our time who will lead us to the Promised Land is Prince Dapo Abiodun,” Kukoyi submitted.
In his response, Governor Abiodun, while welcoming his endorsement by a faction of the PDP, noted that he would look out for their success.
While urging them to talk to their people on the need to come out and vote him for the continued prosperity of the state, the governor noted that his second term would continue to ensure the development of the state.
He assured them that they would be duly recognized and accepted by the All Progressives Congress in the state, adding that they would not regret their decision.
