Ondo PDP Boils Over Mimiko’s Defection

by Oluwatosin Fatoyinbo

The state Executive committee of the Peoples Democratic Party in Ondo State has rejected plan by the National Working Committee of the party to review the structure of the state chapter in favour Governor Olusegun Mimiko who returned to the party on wednesday after six years in the Labour Party.

The committee said it had gone to court to defend the interest of members who had toiled hard to make the party strong.

Deputy Chairman of the PDP in the state, Hon. Fatai Adams, who spoke on behalf of the executive committee, said it was too late for restructuring as the party was close to holding its primaries and that aspirants vying for various elective offices had already emerged.

He said that while Mimiko is welcome to the PDP, the structure of the party for the 2015 election will not be restructured because of him.

“We are ready to work with him and move this state forward. We are also prepared to support the governor in ensuring President Goodluck Jonathan’s victory in 2015.

“However, the state working committee has resolved to protect the structure of the party at the state, local government and ward levels. We have filed an injunction in the High Court sitting in Abuja to protect this structure.

“This is because the primaries are a month away and a lot of aspirants have indicated their interests in contesting under the party. “We are fully prepared to protect the interests of all members who have laboured and spent their resources to make the party become the beautiful bride it is today.

“We are not ready to surrender the structure of the party to anybody because we were elected and we are prepared to ensure the success of the party.”

Also, some party faithfuls who are unhappy about the Governor’s defection have queried the motives for his return. They claimed the Governor would not have returned if former Governor, Olusegun Agagu was still alive.