TheCable

Ali Olanusi, the deputy governor of Ondo state, says he defected to the All Progressives Congress (APC) because the party offers “justice, fairness and equity”.

Olanusi who defected from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) said this in a statement issued on Thursday.

“While still being in place as the democratically elected deputy governor of Ondo state, I have decided to lead my teeming supporters and well wishers in the state into the All Progressive Congress (APC) where we can find justice, fairness, equity and democratic liberty, a party to which majority of our kith and kin in Yorubaland belongs,” he said.

“I have taken this decision at this critical time, in the best interest of peace, stability and good governance of our dear state and for the overall development of the south west and the nation.”

“They (his followers) have watched helplessly in the last six years the untold marginalisation and total exclusion from the government they laboured to put in place.”

Kayode Akinmade, the commissioner for information, said: “The state government just received the news of the defection of Alhaji Ali Olanusi, the deputy governor of Ondo State, to the All Progressives Congress.

“Though it came as a surprise, government acknowledges his right to determine his political affiliation and wish him well.”

Olanusi was the running mate of Mimiko on the platform of the Labour Party in 2007 and became deputy governor in 2009 after the court of appeal declared  Mimiko winner of the 2007 governorship election in the state.

He has been deputy since 2009 after the pair won the election in 2014.

The pair defected to PDP in October 2014 from the Labour party.

This adds to the long list of defections recorded in 2015 election period with the latest being the defection of Rivers state deputy governor, Tele Ikuru, from APC to PDP.