It is not an easy time for Mopamuro PDP as scores of the party’s members defected to the All Progressives Congress.
In a short ceremony at the country home of the State Commissioner for Information and Communications, Hon. Kingsley Fanwo in Takete Ide, some members and leaders of the PDP said the choice of Mrs Bukola Obajemu as the Vice Chairman of the Local Government has heralded the end of PDP in Ward 06.
Speaking during the defection ceremony which had the Local Government Party Chairman of APC, Hon. Charles Omoyele and the Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Youth and Mobilization for Yagba Federal constituency, Him Seth Abayomi Ronke in attendance, a former PDP Ward Chairman, Mr Tolu Atoba said Orokere Community has resolved to move away from the opposition.
He said: “We are the ones winning for PDP here. But the choice of Mrs Bukola Obajemu has convinced us to decamp. Today, we are dropping the Umbrella for the broom and we will be committed to the APC.”
Also, a strong PDP leader, Mr. Monday Joseph Obadofin also said their sojourn in the opposition is over.
“Let me thank Mr Dennis Komolafe and Mrs Bukola Obajemu for their efforts at convincing us to leave the opposition. Starting from the forthcoming LG Election, we will prove to the world that Orokere Amuro is no more for the opposition PDP”.
Mr Dada Adelabu also said he is convinced by the new leadership of the party in the Ward to defect.
Among the decampees was a close friend of the PDP Vice Chairmanship candidate, Mr Babatunde Olowu. Others that decamped are Mr. Olubunmi Ologe, Mr Taye Titus, Mr Matthew Ayekemi, Titilayo Jimoh, Yemi Jimoh, Mr. Ilesanmi Sunday and a strong PDP stalwart, Mr Agbo Anjorin.
Others are Ojo Obaro (Pupa Alaja), Emmanuel Ojuola, Mayor Ojuola, Emmanuel Meseko and many others too numerous to mention. They said they are representing hundreds of others that will officially join the broom party next week.
Both the Leader of the APC in the Ward, Hon. Dennis Komolafe and the Vice Chairmanship candidate of the APC, Mrs Bukola Obajemu assured the decampees of the readiness of the party to welcome them home.
Also speaking, the Mopamuro LGA APC Chairman, Hon. Charles Omoyele thanked the leaders of the party in the Ward for doing a great job. He said with the new development in Ward 06, it is obvious that Mopamuro is now poised to win all the Wards in all elections.
In his remarks, the Hon. Commissioner for Information and Communications, Kingsley Fanwo said Orokere Amuro has made a big statement.
“You are the largest Ward in Mopamuro but has remained in the opposition for too long. Any community leader in the opposition is against the development of the community.
“We were very sad to have lost all elections in that Ward. But today, those who made us lose have finally seen the light and have decided to announce the obituary of PDP in Ward 06.
“With latest developments, especially the call on a serial winner, Alh. Yahaya Bello to be the President of the country, it is obvious that APC will retain power beyond 2023. Tell the few people remaining in PDP that they cannot continue to be a General without an Army. Let us stay together in APC and fight for the progress of our great LGA.
“On behalf of all the Elders and Leaders of our Party in Mopamuro, I welcome you all to the biggest and best party in Africa. Here, there is no newcomers but all of us equal stakeholders in the party”.
Fanwo later received a strong stalwart of the PDP in Takete Ide/ Otafun Ward, Mr. John Olowosiwa (Oscar) to the APC.
It would be recalled that two weeks ago, hundreds of party supporters in Ayedayo Ward also defected to the APC from PDP, a situation that sent PDP leaders in the LGA to a panic meeting.
Orokere Ward 06 is the Ward of PDP strongman, Commodore Folusho Daniel (rtd).
The gale of defection in the LGA may continue next week during the mega rally of the party ahead of the council polls.
A PDP Chieftain in the Local Government who craved anonymity said the latest development is unhealthy for democracy.
“Taking our members to APC is unhealthy for democracy. Opposition is part of democracy. But what is happening in Mopamuro is a situation where some people are being procured to leave our party.
“APC should stop harassing our members with their corrupt money”.
The party Chieftain said PDP will soon meet to review the situation and come out with a position.