A few months before the governorship election in Ondo State, some chieftains of the Peoples Democratic Party in the state have defected to the All Progressives Congress.
The defectors included a former state women leader of the PDP, Mrs Esther Ebiwonjumi, and other leaders of the opposition party.
Receiving the defectors into the party at Ayeka Igbodigo in the Okitipupa Local Government Area of the state, on Monday, Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa, who is also the APC governorship candidate in the November election, called all members to unite and collaborate ahead of the election.
He said the importance of working together was to ensure that the APC retained power in the state.
“The APC is one big family, and your integration is crucial to our success. Let us all prioritise the success of our party and work together for a better future” Aiyedatiwa told the defectors.
He said running a government required collective efforts to ensure smooth governance and development.
Addressing some of the challenges raised at the meeting with party stakeholders in Okitipupa and Ilaje Local Government Areas, which included infrastructure, electricity and employment, the governor promised to work towards resolving them.
Mid July, Aiyedatiwa received scores of PDP leaders from the Ilaje Local Government Area into the APC.
The defectors pledged their support for Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa to win the poll and retain his seat.
The defecting PDP chieftains included a former Commissioner for Environment, Mr. Lebi Adepiti, and a former Ondo State Oil Producing Areas Development Commission Chairman, Prince Debo Ajimuda.
Welcoming them to the APC, Aiyedatiwa expressed his gratitude for their decision to join the party and support his campaign, describing the development as a strong indication of the Ilaje people’s solidarity for him.