Mimiko: Mass Defection Looms In Ondo PDP

Posted by African Examiner Featured, Latest Headlines, Politics Saturday, November 1st, 2014

Folukemi Kikelomo, Akure

Massive defection is set to hit the camp of the People’s Democratic Darty, PDP in Ondo state as some aggrieved members of the party are planning to pitch their tents with the All Progressives Congress, APC in the state following the dictatorial attitude of Governor Olusegun Mimiko in choosing the party’s candidates for the 2015 general elections.

Governor Olusegun Mimiko of Ondo State

Many members of the party including old and new members are set to dump the PDP over what they described as the over bearing influence of the governor in selecting candidates that will fly the party’s flags in the general election.

Governor Mimiko had returned to the PDP at a meeting in Abuja presided over by the Vice- President Nnmadi Sambo.

His return to the party he left eight years ago has polarized the PDP in the sunshine state as many political watchers have labeled him as “Ebola Virus”.

The party has since been factionalised as some members are loyal to the chairman of the old PDP, Ebenezer Alabi while some are in Governor’s Mimiko camp.

Specifically, some members of the party in Akure South and North are not happy about the choice of Dare Aliu as the candidate of the party for Akure North and South, Federal Constituency.

They wondered why the Governor has decided to pick somebody of questionable character for such an exalted position.

More so, majority of the people had expected the House of Representatives ticket should be zoned to Akure North that has not tasted the position before.

They are also questioning the governor for choosing the senator representing Ondo Central Senatorial district, Senator Ayo Akinyelure as the party’s candidate for another term.

It was gathered that the aggrieved members are holding series of meetings with the leadership of the APC in the state to fine tune their moves to join the party.

Apart from the PDP Members in Akure South and North, some members of the party in the southern senatorial district of the state are also planning to dump PDP.