A number of loyalists of former Ogun state Governor, Gbenga Daniel and former Speaker of the House of Representatives, Dimeji Bankole, on Tuesday defected to the All Progressives Congress, APC.
The defected loyalists include former legislators, council chairmen, party leaders, as well as other major stakeholders from the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, and the Peoples Party of Nigeria, PPN.
But Daniel and some other loyalists, including PPN gubernatorial candidate in 2011 election, Gboyega Nasir Isiaka, former Commissioners as well as close aides are in the last stage of talks with the Labour Party and may soon officially join the party.
The leadership of LP confirmed this development last month, when it named Daniel as its Grand Patron in Ogun state.
Observers say yesterday’s event which presents another political calculation, will become clearer in the coming months.
Notable among the defectors who were received by Governor Ibikunle Amosun in Abeokuta, the state capital, were a former House of Representatives member, representing Ado-Odo/Ota Federal Constituency, Kunle Salako, a former Deputy Speaker of the state 6th legislative Assembly, Tokunbo Oshin, and former Commissioner for Youth and Sports Development in the Otunba Gbenga Daniel administration, Fatai Sowemimo.
Others were ex-Chairman of Yewa North Local Government, Bolaji Aaretola, former Media Aide to Daniel, Apostle Tokunbo Fakeye, and Kayode Odunaro, an ex-Special Assistant to Bankole.
They stated that Amosun’s performance in agriculture, healthcare, education, infrastructural development, attracted them to the APC, adding that a rally to make a public declaration will hold as soon as possible.
Amosun, while welcoming the defectors, urged them to consider themselves as foundational members of APC.
He assured them that the party would provide a level playing field for all its members.
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