Ahead of the governorship election in Ondo state, hundreds of members of the People Democratic Party (PDP), Social Democratic Party (SDP) and other parties in the state on Tuesday defected to the Labour Party (LP) in the state.
The decampees who claimed to be members of the party before parting ways with the party following the mass defection of members of the LP to PDP which was led by former governor of the state, Dr Olusegun Mimiko.
Speaking on behalf of the defectors, Mr Amos Agunloye said “we decided to retrace our steps back home. We belong to the LP before our sojourn to PDP. We build the Labour Party together, but when our leader, Mimiko decided to join PDP, we all left with him.
We are returning home to join forces with others to recapture the state in the next governorship election
He noted that the LP under Mimiko impacted positively on the lives of the people of the state and said “Labour Party is a party that does not discriminate, the party is accommodating and treat its members equally.
He however assured that other members of the party have signified their interest and intention in joining the LP but had to stay away to avoid crowd because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Receiving the decampees, the coordinator of the party in the state, Mr Banji Omotosho, congratulated the defectors and urged them to work for the victory of LP in the forthcoming governorship election in the state.
Omotosho said the defectors will add value to the party, saying they are all seasoned politician and leaders.
He said that their coming into the LP was a manifestation of the acceptance of the party in the state after the party has gone on recess.
He said “we enjoin you to join hands with us to build the party and return to power in 2021 in order to put this state on the path of greatness and development again
“The present administration in the state has failed the people of the state and we will ensure the Labour Party is back to ensure people’s welfare”