The Deputy Governor of Ondo State, Agboola Ajayi, has left the All Progressive Congress (APC) less than 24 hours after a drama with the Police chief. He has picked the membership card of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in his Ese Odo ward.
His departure comes as the PDP took sides with him after the Ondo State Commissioner of Police, Bolaji Salami, was seen allegedly trying to prevent him from exiting the Government House, Akure, in a trending video.
Ajayi was believed to be making moves to quit the ruling party for the opposition PDP this week, a move PDP tacitly confirmed in a Sunday statement by its spokesman, Mr. Kola Ologbondiyan. Ajayi moves to the PDP to fight for a ticket to contest against Governor Rotimi Akeredolu.
Ologbondiyan, like other watchers, fingered Akeredolu for allegedly been behind the treatment meted out to Ajayi as he attempted to move his personal effects out of his Government House quarters. Akeredolu has since denied this in a statement by his spokesman, Mr. Segun Ajiboye.
PDP said the APC and the Nigeria Police should stop fighting a lost battle, “as nothing can stop the imminent mass defection from the fizzling APC to the PDP across the country.”
Ajiboye said it is absolute falsehood the claim his principal had a hand in the drama between Ajayi and the police boss, but added it was a normal procedure for inventory of offices and residential quarters to be taken before an official leaves such premises.
He explained that the police chief was there to restore law and order.
“It should, however, be placed on records that it is a time-tested code in government’s business for officials to take inventory of offices and quarters before and after an official is moving in or out of offices or quarters.
“Accordingly, the Commissioner of Police intervention which was at the instance of an almost manipulated security apparatus at the Government House was most desirable to restore law and order.
“It becomes particularly worrisome and suspicious when aides of the Deputy Governor insisted on leaving the premises with items wrapped in unclear ownership as late as 11pm.
“Governor Akeredolu reiterates his commitment to the rights of all, including the Deputy Governor governor. But he has a duty to be firm and dispassionate in exercising the roles assigned to him.”
However, the PDP said Saturday’s move against Ajayi, by the APC, using Salami, “is symptomatic of the last kicks of a degraded and derelict political party that is now clutching at straws and can only resort to use of compromised security agents as face-saving measure.”
The opposition party adds, “The APC is unnerved because Nigerians are no longer ready to stomach the deception and lies of 2015 as well as the impunity, political brigandage and the electoral fraud of 2019.
This is because the situation in the country in the last five years has left no one in doubt that the APC is an ill-wind; a soulless mob; a decrepit ship of insatiate pirates, political vampires and ravenous power mongers, which thrives in lies, deception and treasury looting; and whose only legacies are economic ruins, institution of poverty, escalated insecurity, confusion, divisiveness, humongous corruption, dissipated reserves and accumulated debts.
“It is therefore a natural national course for democrats in the APC, who have realized that the sinking party is completely irredeemable, to leave the APC in droves with their supporters.
“It is imperative to state that this development is sparking jubilations in every corner and cranny across our country.
“The PDP therefore cautions the Nigeria Police and other security agencies to note the tide and not allow the APC to use them as pawns to fight an already lost battle against Nigerians.”