By Temitope Adedeji
The crisis in Ondo State Peoples Democratic Party as fully unravelled as former gubernatorial candidate of the party in the state and National Legal Adviser, Chief Olusola Oke, and some leaders of the party have defected to the All Progressives Congress.
The party secretariat in Akure, the Ondo State capital, was filled to capacity on Wednesday as the people were hailing Oke and others at the ceremony.
Oke hails from Ilaje/Ese Odo Local Government area of the state.
According to Oke,” The PDP in the state have been in crisis for quite some time since the defection of the state Governor, Dr. Olusegun Mimiko, from labour party to PDP last year October. He mismanaged the resources of the state. Other decampees are Senator Gbenga Ogunniya, Chief Mrs Oladunni Odu and incumbent Deputy Governor Alli Olanusi, who also officially announced his defection to the people of the state at the occasion”. The leadership of the party was handed over to Mimiko as soon as he defected to the party.
All attempts to pacify the old PDP failed as Mimiko’s associates dominated all elective and appointive positions in the party. Addressing the crowd, Oke said change was imminent and inevitable.
He said that Ondo State people should join hands in making ‘Change’ a reality. The state APC Chairman, Barr. Isaac Kekemeke, welcomed the new intake and assured them of equal rights, saying the door of the party is open to all.