BY Femi Owolabi
The chairman of seven local government areas (LGA) and 42 councillors in Ekiti state defected from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) on Friday.
The chairmen and councillors were received into the party at a rally at Fajuyi Pavilion in Ado-Ekiti, the state capital.
The chairmen who defected are Ayodeji Daniel (Ekiti west), Abiodun Dada (Ijero), Yemi Ayeni (Ikere), Tunde Aladegbami (Ido/Osi), Sikiru Ogundana (Ekiti east), Olubayode Okeya (Emure) and Yemi Owoeye (Efon).
In a speech at the occasion, Okeya described Kayode Fayemi, governor of the state, as “a real leader and a bridge builder who will go far in the politics of the country.”
Aladegbami, another chairman, said Fayemi had set a record in ensuring harmonious relationship between opposition parties and never deceived or coerced them to join APC.
He described Fayemi as a promise keeper, passionate about the development of Ekiti and better welfare for its people.
In his own remarks, Ogundana, one of them, advised the remaining local government chairmen still in PDP to “accept the reality” and cross over to APC which he described as the party Ekiti people were in love with.
Paul Omotosho, chairman of the party in the state, and Oladapo Karonwi, APC zonal spokesperson, were among the party chieftains who welcomed the new members.
Karonwi said the defectors had taken the best decision “by quitting PDP whose governance structures have collapsed irretrievably.”
Omotosho described them as great assets, and promised that they would not be discriminated against as they would enjoy same privileges with old members.
“Nobody is a latecomer in our party, we are ready to accommodate you. You have seen the light and you will never go back to darkness again and together, we will move Ekiti forward,” he said.
“I want to say that our doors are still open to those who are still in opposition to join us, come over to APC the party of the people”.
There are 177 elected councillors in the 16 local government areas of the state.
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