The gale of defections that hit the Peoples Democratic Party's (PDP) legislators in the Ondo State House of Assembly in recent times have finally given the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in the state a comfortable control of the hallowed chamber, following five more members elected on the platform of the PDP who dumped the party, and defected to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
The People's Democratic Party (PDP), was hitherto, in control of the House with 21 out of the 26 members of the Assembly before the wave of defection started blowing in the Sunshine Assembly.
The five new defectors are; the immediate past Deputy Speaker, Rt. Hon. Fatai Olotu, representing Akoko North East State Constituency; Hon. Akinyele Fasogbon, representing Odigbo State Constituency 2; Hon. Kuti Towase, representing Akoko South East State Constituency; Hon. Bimbo Fajolu, representing Ileoluji/Okeigbo State Constituency and Hon. Tuyi Akintimehin, representing Idanre State Constituency.
The latest defection brought to 13 the number of PDP legislators in the House who have defected to the ruling party in the last one month.
With the defection of the former PDP lawmakers, the APC which was in the minority with five members now has 18 members while membership of the PDP suffered major decrease to eight, giving the ruling APC the two-third majority needed to make any decision in the House of Assembly.
Speaking on Wednesday at the International Event Centre, The Dome, venue of the colourful event, the state Governor, Arakunrin Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, while receiving the new members and their supporters into the APC saluted their courage for taking the right decision without being financially induced.
The colourful ceremony was attended by the Deputy Governor, Hon. Agboola Ajayi; Secretary to the State Government, Hon. Ifedayo Abegunde; Speaker of the House of Assembly, Hon. Bamidele Oleyeloogun, his Deputy, Hon. Ogundeji Iroju, Majority Leader, Hon. Olugbenga Araoyinbo, and party leaders.
The Governor emphasised that he was ready to work with all the members of the House regardless of their political parties, to ensure harmonious executive-legislature relationship for the development of the State.
While noting that the step taken by the five lawmakers as well as those who defected previously and their supporters showed their readiness to contribute their own quota to the development of the State, Akeredolu further pleaded with lawmakers and the people of the State to be patient with his government as things would gradually take shape.
Earlier, the state Deputy Chairman of the APC, Engr. Ade Adetimehin, commended the lawmakers and their supporters for dumping what he called the "sinking PDP ship" for the APC, promising that APC would accord equal right to the new members.
He expressed optimism that more PDP lawmakers would still join the APC.
In his remarks on behalf of the defectors, Rt. Hon. Fatai Olotu disclosed that their defection would add value to the APC and that they would join hands with the governor to move the state forward.
In separate interviews with The Hope in Akure, the lawmakers explained that they willingly dumped their former party, PDP, and defected to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in the interest of the state and the people of their various constituencies.
The legislators attributed their defection to the "unresolvable crisis" that had engulfed the PDP from the National to the Ward levels and the need to realign their mandates with the present government to ensure meaningful progress and development in their various constituencies and the state at large.
According to them, their defection was not financially induced either by the state Governor or any other leader of the APC, but basically for the peace, progress and the development of their constituencies and the state in general.
Hon. Olotu said, " you also heard when Mr. Governor said it, we were not financially induced at all to join the APC. We did not ask for money at all; all we want is the progress and the development of our state and our constituencies".
On his part, Hon. Fasogbon Akinyele emphasised that, "I can say this loud and clear that all of us that defected to APC did not collect single penny and no money was given to us either by the Governor or the Deputy Governor or any other leader of APC.
"We willingly moved to APC so that Ondo state can grow. All we are after is the development of the people of our constituencies and Ondo state at large. Nothing more".
Also Hon. Tuyi and Hon. Fajolu added that their defection became imperative after due consultations with the people of their constituencies.
