PDP lawmaker, others defect to APC in Ondo
The lawmaker representing Ilaje constituency I, at the Ondo State House of Assembly, Abayomi Akinruntan, on Tuesday defected to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
Akinrutan, a son to the Monarch of Ugbo Kingdom, Oba Albert Akinruntan, claimed that his defection to the APC was due to the unresolved political crisis rocking the PDP.
The lawmaker during his defection led eleven political heavyweight who are mainly supporters of former Governor Olusegun Mimiko from Ilaje to the fold of the All Progressives Congress (APC).
Daily Times gathered that those who defected alongside Hon. Akinruntan included: Bayo Shegede, Sam Obasuwaye, Babatunde Lepe, Dickson Okuntade, and Nomiye Adegbenro.
Both Ifedayo Abegunde, the Secretary to the State Government and Olugbenga Ale, the Chief of Staff to the Governor received the new defectors at the Cocoa Conference hall of the Alagbaka office.
Akinruntan, however, appreciated the All Progressives Congress led government under Rotimi Akeredolu for taking bold steps to resolve the lingering crisis rocking the state parliament.
The lawmaker maintained that the intervention of the Akeredolu led government convinced him and other defectors to join the APC.
“Our decamping is not farfetched from the happenings in the party (PDP) and we are concerned that the new government has started well and we believe that coming to join the party, will add value to our lives and our people in Ilaje,” he said.
Receiving the defectors, Mr. Abegunde said Hon. Akinruntan and his crop of supporters would make the All Progressives Congress (APC) gain more ground in Ilaje.
He told the decampees to continue to propagate the good work of the APC led government in the state.
He later assured that the present administration on board was prepared to provide a level playing ground for the new comers.
“He is a big fish because of his activities and empowerment programmes for his people and coming to APC will add value,” the SSG said.
