CHANGE!! Ondo Deputy Governor Dumps PDP for APC, 2 Days To Election
Barely two days to the presidential election, the Ondo
State deputy governor, Alhaji Ali Olanusi, has
dumped the Peoples Democratic Party to the rival All
Progressives Congress in the state.
The development came barely five days after the
Rivers State Deputy Governor, Mr. Tele Ikuru,
dumped the APC for PDP.
In a swift reaction to Olanusi's defection, the Ondo
state government said it wished the deputy governor
well.
The state Commissioner for Information, Kayode
Akinmade, in a two-paragraph statement, said, "The
state government just received the news of the
defection of Alhaji All Olanusi, the Deputy Governor
of Ondo State, to the All Progressives Congress.
"Though it came as a surprise, the government
acknowledges his right to determine his political
affiliation and wish him well."
Announcing his defection on Thursday, Olanusi, in a
statement, said, "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 Progressives
Congress where we can find justice, fairness, equity
and democratic liberty, a party to which majority of
our kith and kin in Yorubaland belong.
"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."
The deputy governor noted that as a result of the
unfolding political development in the country,
particularly in Ondo State, it was clear that he needed
to chart a new course for majority of his followers
who looked up to him for direction and leadership.
"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," he said.
The APC in the state, which received the news with
delight, stated that the development signalled victory
for the party in the coming elections.
The Publicity Secretary of the party, Omo'oba
Adesanya, said the party welcomed the deputy
governor into the party, saying more PDP members
would be joining APC before the election.
He said, "We welcome him into the fold of the APC. It
shows that the wind of change that is blowing is
across board.
"Olanusi understands the political rhythm and he is
dancing to it appropriately. Change is imminent and
victory is certain."
Meanwhile, the Deputy Speaker of the Ondo State
House Assembly, Dare Emiola, has dissociated
himself from the Olanusi's action.
Olanusi and Eniola are both from the Akoko South-
West Local Government Area and had hitherto been
strong political allies.
Eniola, in a statement in Akure on Thursday, asserted
his continued membership of the PDP in spite of
Olanusi's defection.
He said, "I want to use this opportunity to dissociate
myself from the actions of the deputy governor,
Alhaji Olanusi, who dumped the PDP for APC.
"All the honourable members of the Ondo State
House of Assembly are still full-fledged members of
the PDP to which I belong."
He also said the PDP would sweep the polls on
Saturday despite the defection of the deputy
governor, calling on all supporters of the party to
remain steadfast.
The traditional ruler of Supare Akoko, hometown of
Olanusi, Oba Adejoro Adedeji, also on Thursday
described the deputy governor's defection as "a rude
shock and embarrassment to the Supare
community."
The monarch said this in a chat with journalists in
Akure.
Adedeji, who noted that the defection was of no
effect, said the decision of the deputy governor was
unilateral as he never informed any member of the
community before he defected.
"Olanusi is on his own," he said.
Also on Thursday, the PDP in Ondo State said Olanusi
was never a member of the party going by the last re-
registration exercise conducted in the party.
A statement by the party's Publicity Director, Ayo
Fadaka, stated that the deputy governor was not
registered both in his ward and local government by
the party.
The Ondo PDP spokesman said, "It is however
pertinent for us to underscore the fact that Alhaji
Olanusi is not a member of the PDP in Ondo State as
he was not re-registered in his ward and local
government by the party.
"While admitting that he attended two party functions
recently, he was a passive observer at such functions
and his attendance does not in any manner confer
membership on him.
"By his latest political gymnastic, it is obvious that he
had been a clandestine member of the APC and a
mole in the government of Governor Olusegun
Mimiko and has just received the order to declare
openly for them."
He noted that Olanusi's action was intended to serve
as a response to the declaration of Ikuru in Rivers,
adding that "both are however not in the same cadre,
while Ikuru possess the power and influence to inflict
devastating damages on APC in Rivers State, same
cannot be said of Ali Olanusi of Ondo State."
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