Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ondo State, Engr. Ade Adetimehin, has predicted that the Sunshine State may soon become a party state, judging from the gale of defections that is hitting other political parties.
The party boss gave the prediction in Ondo West Local Government area of the state on Tuesday, when he received a large number of defectors from the Zenith Labour Party (ZLP), and the African Democratic Party (ADP).
Prominent members of two political parties defected to the APC ahead of the October 10 gubernatorial election in the state.
“With what I am seeing here today, it is very safe to predict that Ondo State is gradually moving closer to becoming a one-party state”, he declared as he received them.
Adetimehin said the recent defection of bigwigs of other political parties to the ruling APC was a measure of the development going in every nooks and crannies of the state.
The party Chairman hailed the decisions of an ex- Zenith Labour Party bigwig, Alhaji Basiru Oluwole, a former House of Assembly Candidate of ZLP, Constituency 2 Ondo West, and African Democratic Party (ADC) Chieftains, Hon. Ademulegun Adeala, to prefer the APC family as wonderful.
Alhaji Oluwole Bashiru was, until recently, a close ally of the former governor and leader of the ZLP, Dr. Olusegun Mimiko
Other political gladiators on the train were Hon. Adesemoye Segun, a former ADC State Publicity Secretary, Legislative Aide to the member of House of Representatives, Ondo East /West, Hon. Alaba Oladele, Councillorship candidate of ADC in ward 5 Ondo West, Mrs Tessy Ibijoke Ajayi, among others.
Adetimehin said the coming of Alhaji Basiru, and others into the fold of the APC is “a big plus for the party,” describing them as accomplished politicians, who would add great value to the party.
” Prominent politicians are moving into our party because of the growing confidence in the APC- led administration
“This is the party that mean well for the people of Sunshine state;
the party of progressives’.
The party chairman promised that the defectors and their teeming supporters would be accorded all the rights and privileges of existing members.
While explaining why they decided to join the Progressives fold, the new members said they were encouraged by the sincerity of the governor, Arakunrin Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, SAN, and his zeal to transform the state, “and decided to join APC in order to move the state to greater heights.”