Governorship candidate of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Lagos in the 2015 poll, Mr. Jimi Agbaje, has received over 3,000 defectors from All Progressives Congress (APC) into the party.
The defectors were welcomed into the party on Wednesday, shortly after the reconciliatory meeting held by Vice President Namadi Sambo with Agbaje and co-aspirants in the governorship race ahead of 2015.
The defectors belonged to the Justice Forum (JF), which is one of the two major caucuses that formed the defunct Alliance for Democracy (AD) that later transformed to Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN).
The ACN was one of the legacy parties that merged together to form APC.
Agbaje, while welcoming the defectors at a ceremony that took place in Surulere, said that the PDP, based on popular acceptance by the people of Lagos, would form the next government in the state in 2015.
The governorship candidate, who expressed delight that the PDP was now united than before following earlier reconciliation of all governorship aspirants of the party by Vice President Namadi Sambo, said there was now an urgent demand on the party by the people of Lagos to form the next government.
According to him, this is so because the people are tired of APC government and, therefore, wanted a change that will transform their lives positively.
“Lagosians are now tired of APC and are waiting for PDP to bring the desired change that will transform their lives positively,” he said.
Agbaje, while assuring the defectors of level playing field in the party, said that the PDP would fulfill all the promises made to the people of Lagos and essentially lessen the burdens they were currently facing in areas of education, health services, transportation, accommodation, among others.
Speaking at the event, leader of the group, Chief David Abidakun, who disclosed that the defectors were drawn from all the states of South West, said he and other members decided to leave APC because they were marginalised.
He also accused APC of lacking internal democracy, saying that the defectors chose to join PDP to ensure victory for the party in all the elections in 2015.
Abidakun, who disclosed that Justice Forum had 70,000 members across the South-West, said more defection was, however, imminent as the caucus members would be taking their turns in states across the zone after the formal declaration in Lagos.
