Defections: Is this PDP’s time to reap from other political party’s losses?
As the nation’s political climate continuous to experience uncertainty and the various political parties experience some levels of instability, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), especially in the South West seems to be reaping from the political spoil of other parties, as in the last few days and weeks many frontline politicians have pitched tent with the PDP.
Though many of those returning to pitch tent with the PDP, obviously towards the 2023 elections, are persons who at one time or the other in their political lives were strong stakeholders in the PDP.
For example Former Ekiti State governor and immediate past National Vice Chairman, South, Segun Oni is on the verge of dump the APC for the PDP, just as former governor of Osun State, on the platform of the PDP, Olagunsoye Oyinlola, is also set to return to the PDP with at least 50 other prominent politicians in the state.
Also a Lagos businessman and former governorship candidate of Action Democratic Party (ADP) in Lagos State, Babatunde Gbadamosi, who was also a member of the PDP has returned to the Party.
This is some among the many politicians that have returned or joined the PDP, or indicated interest in joining the party in recent times.
Speaking with some journalists on telephone Oni said his decision to dump APC was in the best interest of his political family, who he said had been marginalised.
Oni said he was treated with disdain as a former deputy national chairman, alleging his suspension was never attended to by the party’s leadership.
He said he was discussing with critical stakeholders in Ekiti PDP like ex-Governor Ayodele Fayose and Senator Biodun Olujimi, about his resolve to return to PDP.
Oni added that in weeks, he would be received back into Ekiti PDP with his supporters.
He said he decided to return to PDP to accede to the request of his people who were desirous of taking the political step.
He said: “It is true that I am leaving APC for PDP. You all knew the kind of treatment I have been getting. As we speak, none of my supporters was given appointment or allowed to contest elections in APC.
“If APC gives me the whole world, I won’t be happy seeing an integral part of my political family, my supporters, being treated badly. Is that how to run a party? You leave out some people when you are giving out appointments because they belong to the Segun Oni political family?”
“When I was the deputy national chairman, some of them said they suspended me from the party. Till now, the issues surrounding the suspension have not been attended to. We have to fight against the tyranny of the minority within the party. How can some people, who are not even party exco at the ward level, suspend a party leader?
“We have taken a decision and we are at the process of joining the PDP. We will raise an implementation committee to work on our programme of actions. I am not that politician who rushes at things; we can’t just go back that way; there must be proper planning.
“Those who took the action were my supporters across all the local governments and 177 wards, who felt bad about the situation. But the major thing is that we are moving; we have taken a decision to go back and on that we are working on.”
Oni had joined the APC from PDP ahead of the 2014 governorship election.
Also, barring any unforeseen circumstances, Oyinlola and over 50 of his supporters will be joing the PDP in a short while.
This was contained in a statement made available by Soji Adagunodo, the Osun PDP chairman on Tuesday. PDP said the decision to absorb major stakeholders in the state is to strengthen the party ahead of the 2022 gubernatorial election.
Fatai Akinbade; former Secretary to the Government and 2018 gubernatorial candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) and the Osun State Chairman of Social Democratic Party (SDP) Bayo Faforiji will also lead their party members to PDP unification rally scheduled to hold on Wednesday at Ibadan, Oyo State.
The statement reads: “This is to inform all members of the Peoples Democratic Party, Osun State chapter and the general public that our party is ready to form a formidable and viable opposition party in order to win the upcoming gubernatorial election in 2022.”
“We are also glad to tell you that we have been able to welcome people from Accord, Action Democratic Party, African Democratic Congress, All Progressives Congress, Social Democratic Party, People’s Democratic Movement, etc in different local government areas and the area office back to our party in the past.
“By Wednesday, 18th March, 2020, we will be welcoming Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola, Alhaji Fatai Akinbade and 50 other political leaders with their supporters at the South West Unification rally holding at Mapo Hall, Ibadan, Oyo State.
“There will be a full declaration in Osun State on the 25th March, 2020 which will include Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola, Alhaji Fatai Akinbade and other political leaders in ADC, the Dr. Bayo Faforiji-led Kosemani group of SDP, the Barrister S.L. Ojo-Williams-led group of SDP and also Alhaji Akomola-led group of PDM and their followers in their thousands.
“By this the political structures of these three political parties, ADC, SDP and PDM will be collapsed into PDP to form a formidable opposition in order to win the 2022 governorship election in the state.”
Among officials of the SDP decamping to the PDP in Osun State are Hamzat Folaranmi; SDP deputy state chairman, Adetoye Ogungboyega; SDP Senatorial Chairman, Tunde Hamzat; SDP financial secretary, Musibau Shittu; party’s treasurer, Lekan Obisakin; SDP state’s welfare secretary.
Others include: Emiola Fakeye (Leader Ijesa South Federal constituency), Yekini Tawakalit (Leader, Iwo Federal constituency), Sooko Elugbaju Kemade, (Leader, Ife Federal constituency), Sola Ayandirin (Leader Osogbo/Olorunda Federal constituency), Adekunle Adeoye (Leader, Ayedaade Federal constituency), Kanmi Adelani (Leader Egbedore) and Badiru Raheem (Leader, Boluwaduro Federal constituency), among other prominent members who are also joining the train.
Also in Lagos while being hosted by the leadership of the PDP, Ikorodu born, Gbadamosi called for unity and harmony among the membership of the party, stressing that the opposition party will get back power if it put its house in order.
The grandson of the legendary Action Group (AG) stalwart, Alhaji Sule Gbadamosi spoke at the party secretariat at a ceremony marking his return.
He said one of the reasons he returned to PDP was to support members to build a united party to win elections.
“My job is to build a winning team that cannot be usurped by those people for their advantage. PDP is disturbed by APC’s inability to provide infrastructures. We are also disturbed about the pipeline explosion at Abule Ado, and symphatise with bereaved families,” he added.
The party Chairman in Lagos State, Mr. Adedeji Doherty expressed shock at ‘the state’s soaring debt profile’. He said something should be done to prevent the state from going bankrupt.
Doherty urged Gbadamosi and his supporters to team up with other PDP members to build the party as a credible alternative to the All Progressives Congress (APC).
He said Lagosians were tired of APC, following its failure to fulfill its promises.
The party chair described Gbadamosi as an advantage for PDP, saying he was dogged and committed.
He said: “Gbadamosi is dogged and committed. He has come early enough to join PDP to strategise for the 2023 elections. We shall do our work; we will burn candles and sell our party to the people. That is one of the reasons Gbadamosi has come to join us.”
This development may have reasoned is likely to pose a strategic political advantagefor the PDP towards future elections, especially towards the 2023 elections both in the South West and other regions.
However, some political observers have advised the PDP to be careful in how it manages its good fortunes, because if those who are coming into the party at this time are not well managed, what today is seen as a positive development could turn out negative and spell its doom in future elections.
