Akinlade Finally Dumps PDP

Anayo Okolie

The Ogun State chapter of All Progressives Congress (APC) has received a major boost ahead of the 2019 general election following the defection of a former House of Representatives member, Hon. Abiodun Akinlade, from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

Akinlade, who represented Yewa South/Ipokia Federal Constituency between 2003 and 2015, dumped the PDP after reconciling with the state governor, Senator Ibikunle Amosun.

The lawmaker was received by the APC Acting Chairman, Alhaji Tajudeen Lemboye and other chieftains of the party along with his supporters.

The state governor’s elder brother, Alhaji Abidoye Amosun, who was at the occasion, handed over Akinlade to the party executive and called for continued mobilisation for APC ahead of the next general elections.

In his remarks, Akinlade, who is also a governorship hopeful from the Ogun West senatorial district, commended Amosun for publicly endorsing the zone to produce his successor in 2019.

He noted that the governor had chosen to follow the path of justice and equity by supporting the quest of Yewa-Awori people to produce a governor since the state was created 41 years ago.

Giving insight into his defection, Akinlade disclosed that whatever differences that existed between him and the governor had been settled.

According to him, “APC is my home and i have returned home. I am reuniting the progressives to move our dear state forward. As a stakeholder in our state, I want to commend our governor for daring the odds to publicly identify with the Ogun West people in our quest for governorship in the state.

“Posterity will not forget him and we believe that the zone will succeed him in 2019. I want to urge our people to put their house in order and eschew the practice of the past that debarred us from reaching the Promised Land.

“All Yewa sons and daughters should rally behind the governor. He deserves our support much more than before. We believe that in 2019 he will finish well and hand over to a worthy successor from our area.”

Akinlade, who expressed optimism that the zoning of governorship slot to Ogun West would address the marginalisation of the area, urged traditional rulers and elders in the state to support Amosun towards actualising the course.