Heavy blow for ex-governor Gbenga Daniel, PDP as his aide leads 50 others to APC ahead of 2019

macfranc007 November 11, 2017 Nigeria News today & Breaking news ▷ Read Nigerian newspapers 24/7 Eromosele Ebhomele

Raheem Ajayi, a former special adviser to ex-Governor Otunba Gbenga Daniel of Ogun state on youth and sports, has dumped the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) with 50 others.

Ajayi, popularly called Baglo, with his other defectors, moved into the ruling All Progressives Congress in the state at a time his former boss is battling to become the national chairman of the PDP.

Daily Sun reports that Ajayi was received into the APC by Tolu Odebiyi, the chief of staff to the Governor Ibikunle Amosun, as well as the speaker of the Ogun state House of Assembly, Suraj Adekumbi, on Friday at Imasayi, Yewa North Local Government Area.

Ajayi said his decision to join the APC was because the party decided to field someone from Ogun West in the 2019 gubernatorial election.

“My primary aim of getting involved in political process especially in Ogun state is to better the lots of my people, part of which is getting one of us, a Yewa-Awori man, elected the governor.

“The party that is sure of is the APC, especially when my former party has demonstrated otherwise.

“It has become not only expedient but imperative at this very critical time of our life as a people to support such a party which will make our 42 year political struggle a reality.

“Since the creation of our dear state, no one from Ogun West has been elected governor, whereas Ogun East and central have produced two governors each at different times.

“APC has decided to zone the governorship slot to Ogun west, that’s why I am joining the party,” Ajayi added.

The former aide commended Amosun’s administration for redefining governance and building legacy infrastructure as well as securing the lives and property of the people.

He also reportedly commended the governor saying he would support a Yewa-Awori governorship candidate in 2019 while the PDP is zoning its own slot to Ogun East.

Speaker Suraj Adekunbi expressed happiness that Ajayi decided to team up with APC to ensure Ogun West produced a governor in 2019.

NAIJ.com earlier reported that former speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt Hon Dimeji Bankole, officially dumped the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) recently as he moved his structure to the Action Democratic Party (ADP).

It was confirmed from the ADP that the former speaker and major stakeholder in the PDP announced his defection in Abeokuta, the capital of Ogun state.

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