Hundreds of Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP) stalwarts led by the party’s Ikeja LGA Treasurer, Alhaja Awulat Olatunde have defected to the All Progressives Congress, APC, Ikeja in Ward C, the ward of the APC Presidential Candidate, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu
The reception to receive the PDP defectors witnessed by GAC members and other APC leaders took place at APC Ikeja Ward C Congress ground, opposite the Alausa Central Mosque, Kadiri Street Alausa, Ikeja with the Chief of Staff to the Lagos State Governor and Director General of the Tinubu Shettima/ Sanwo-Olu/Hamzat Independent Campaign Group, Mr. Tayo Akinmade Ayinde superintends and introduced Alhaja Olatunde to the APC leadership led by the Chairman APC Ikeja LGA in attendance to welcome the PDP stalwarts to the progressives party.
An obviously elated Mr. Ayinde, said “today is one of my happiest days, I would want to congratulate the people of Alausa and Ikeja for today’s important and unique event. It’s unique in the sense that this is our National Leader’s Ward, called Ward C, consisting of Alausa, Oregun, and Olusosun in Ikeja.
“Our National Leader is the Presidential Candidate for our party in the coming elections, on the 25th of this month”.
“Today, all the PDP members in Alausa, our national leader’s ward have said to us that today they are decamping to APC”.
“So we have here their leader, Alhaja Awulat Olatunde”.
“Alhaja Awulat Olatunde called me that she was feeling reluctant to come to us at this time of the campaign and I told her why would you be reluctant?”
“She said that she has been seeing massive support for Asiwaju even in the north and all over and since she’s not a bastard, she’s from this state and local government, that this is the right time to pay our national leader back for all the good deeds he has done in Lagos State and for all the ongoing developmental projects”.
“As you can see there are massive developments across the state simultaneously and equitably in the nooks and crannies of the state. So because of that,, she said she loves what the APC government is doing in Lagos and she loves what the government is doing at the federal level. So today she wants to join our party, the APC”.
Mr. Ayinde presented Alhaja Olatunde and her teeming supporters from the PDP to the Chairman of the APC Ikeja LGA, Mayegun Dally Adeokun, the GAC members Cardinal James Odunmbaku, Dr. Abayomi Finnih, Chief Funso Ologunde and other APC stalwarts at the carnival-like event.
Chairman APC Ikeja LGA, also doubles as the Chair of the 57 LGA Chairmen in Lagos State, Mayegun Adeokun while receiving the PDP defectors said “we are here in Ward C, Asiwaju’s ward, comprises Alausa, Oregun and Olusosun.
“I hereby present the symbol of our great party, the All Progressives Congress” as he presented the broom symbol of the party to Alhaja Olatunde”.
Alhaja Olatunde in her response after receiving the broom and reciting a folklore song said her desire to return to the progressive party was because of Asiwaju Tinubi’s progressive track record and excellent performance when he served as two-term governor of Lagos State.
She noted that she was surprised at the massive support the APC Presidential candidate has received especially from the northern part of the country and since she’s not a bastard she has to join forces to contribute her part to ensure Asiwaju’s victory at the poll and Nigeria will get quality leadership with him.
The former PDP LGA Women Leader said: “Asiwaju Tinubu is an enigma who has assisted a lot of people irrespective of their tribal, political or religious affiliations. I benefitted from him when he governed Lagos State”.
“We can also see the good work of Governor Sanwo-Olu. These and many other reasons prompted our decision to join the APC. We have strong PDP members across Ikeja namely Alausa, Olusosun, Oregun, Opebi, Onigbogbo, Onireke and Cement among others that defected with me. More are willing to join the APC”.
“So the right thing for anyone that wants the best for the nation and Lagos state is to support Asiwaju Bola Tinubu for President and reelection of Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu” she affirmed
GAC member Cardinal James Odnmbaku in a chat with journalists at the event said the umbrella party, the PDP will cease to exist after the general elections, and that no one would follow a dead party.
The former Deputy Chairman of APC Lagos said “Cardinal Odunmbaku otherwise known as Baba Eto, described the defectors’ action as evidence of good governance.
He said “Asiwaju Tinubu stands for progressive politics, the reason for people associating with him”.
“We give kudos to our National leader, Tinubu; his works speak for him and attracted many opposition members to his party over the years,” he said.
Another GAC member at the event Dr. Abayomi Finnih described Alhaja Olatunde as a big asset to any political party.
“We are assured that she is going to enhance our chances. We know how strong she is to the party she formerly belonged to. Any sensible person should know the only party to be is APC because any other party is wasting time and not realising the political situation we are in Nigeria,” he concluded.
Other APC stalwarts at the event include the party’s Candidate for Lagos State House of Assembly Ikeja Constituency 1, Hon Seyi Lawal, the party’s LGA Chairpersons in Onigbongbo and Ojodu LCDAs, Alhaja Iyabode Akerele and Alhaja Sola Kokumo respectively, among others.
