In what can be aptly termed a reversal of fortune, the Deputy Governor of Ondo State, Alhaji Ali Olanusi and his supporters on Thursday defected from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC), a few days after his counterpart in Rivers State trace the contrary part.
The Deputy Governor of Rivers State Mr Telle Ikeru dumped APC alleging many horrendous misdeeds against the APC, which following the defection of the state’s Governor Rotimi Amaechi, to the party from PDP became the ruling party in the state.
Olanusi’s defection is coming barely 48 hours to the presidential election in Nigeria.
Confirming his defection in a statement, he said, “In the unfolding development in our country today and in Ondo state in particular, it is increasingly clear that I need to chart a new course for majority of my followers who looked up to me for direction and leadership and who watched helplessly in the last six years the untold marginalisation and total exclusion from the government they laboured to put in place.
“While still in place as the democratically Deputy Governor of Ondo State, I have decided to lead my teeming supporters and well-wishers in the state into All Progressives Congress, APC, where we can find fairness, justice, equity and democratic liberty to which majority of our kith and kins in Yorubaland belong.
“I have taken this decision at this crucial time in the best interest of peace, stability and good governance of our dear state and overall development of the South-west and the nation,” his statement read.
It was learnt that Olanusi and others in government of Olusegun Mimiko in the state had not been comfortable with the governor’s move from the Labour Party to the PDP.
Olanusi was the chairman of the PDP in the state before Mimiko convinced him to leave the party and become his deputy. This had resulted in a major crisis in the PDP in the state then.
