The opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ondo State on Wednesday slammed each other over the defection of some members to the ruling party in preparation for the November 2024 governorship election in the state.
Fatai Adams, the PDP chairman in the state while addressing journalists in Akure, said many of its members who joined the APC are now returning to the opposition party “quietly.”
“About two months ago, Adetimehin (APC chairman) declared that seven members of the State Working Committee of PDP would decamp to his party in days, weeks and months have since gone by, nothing of such happened and will not happen.
“Again at their peace meeting with President Tinubu, he said that PDP members are decamping to his APC every day, this of course is another lie.
“Much as we admit that we lost some members to APC, we need to let Adetimehin know that his incongruous tact and managerial ability have since made many of those who joined APC with fanfare return quietly to the PDP, at the appropriate time, we will celebrate their return,” he said.
But in a swift reaction, Ade Adetimehin challenged the PDP to release the names of its members who earlier decamped to the governing party and are now returning quietly.
The APC chairman, in a release obtained by Daily Trust, queried why those who had already left the opposition for the governing party would choose to return, noting that the PDP lacks understanding of the dynamics in politics.
Recall that in August, some members of the PDP in the 18 local government areas of the state defected to the APC, hinging their decision on “the exceptional leadership of Governor Rotimi Akeredolu”.
The defectors, who included erstwhile vice chairmen and 203 councillors across the council areas, left the opposition party for the governing party under the aegis of the Ondo Forum of Vice Chairmen and Councillors.
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