From Bode Durojaiye, Oyo.
More than 500 members of the Accord Party in the Atiba local government area of Oyo State on Wednesday defected to the All Progressives Congress (APC).
The AP members, who were mainly youths, dumped their former party at a colourful ceremony which took place at Oke-olola area and attended by APC candidate for the House of Representatives, Prince Adeniyi Adeyemi and
leaders from the four local governments (Afijio, Atiba, Oyo-East and Oyo-West) that constitute Oyo Federal Constituency.
In his address, Leader of the decampees and former Secretary of AP in the local government, Mr. Kunle Ojo, cited imposition of candidates and insincerity of purpose on the part of their former party leaders.
Ojo said they took the decision to join the APC having understudied various achievements of Alaafin’s son towards improving socio-economic lives of the teeming impoverished, especially the rural dwellers during his tenure as Council chairman.
“What is more disturbing is the inability of the incumbent member of the House of Representatives not to impart into the lives of his constituents for the past seven and a half years he has been representing the constituency. We are against such lawmaker who goes about insulting our esteemed paramount ruler, who, incidentally is instrumental to the position he is currently occupying. After shirking in his responsibilities to the people, the federal lawmaker is now
going about appeasing his constituents with box of matches. We reject this and prefer to align with tested and trusted team of achievers which include all branded APC candidates in the state, including the Presidential flag bearer.’’
Receiving former AP members into the new party, APC leader, Mr. David Ogundiran and Prince Adeniyi, who thanked them for their understanding and support, gave assurances that the party would not let them down.
