AHEAD of the public declaration of Governor Olusegun Mimiko of Ondo State for the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, the National Secretariat of the party has inaugurated a seven member committee to work out a smooth movement of the governor and other Labour Party, LP, chieftains to the PDP.
Gov Mimiko
Governor Mimiko is expected to defect publicly next month in an elaborate ceremony that will attract President Goodluck Jonathan, the NWC members of the Party and PDP governors .
Members of the committee led by a PDP Board of Trustees member of the party in the state, Dr Bode Olajumoke has representatives from the three Senatorial Districts of the state.
Other committee members include former governorship candidate of the party in the state, Chief Olusola Oke, former Defence Minister, Tokunbo Kayode and the Special Adviser to the President on Amnesty Affairs, Mr. Kingsly Kuku.
Also included are former Information Commissioner in the state, Dr Eddy Olafeso, former council chairman and the PDP National Youth leader, Dennis Alonge-Niyi.
It was gathered at the weekend that the much talked about 60:40 or 70:30 sharing of political positions in favour of the governor and his party members is a ruse.
Speaking with newsmen in Ikare area of the state, a chieftain of the Party and a member of the Committee, Hon Gbenga Elegbeleye said the committee has commenced work.
Elegbeleye said that the committee is expected to liaise with the Presidency and the National Secretariat of the Party on the planned defection.
He confirmed that the committee is working out a smooth transition that would be beneficial to both sides.
Elegbeleye who is the Director General of National Sports Commission, NSC, described the speculation that certain ratio of political offices had been conceded to the governor as ‘mere street talk.’
The DG however described the governor’s planned movement to PDP as a blessing, adding that the party in the state is sure of garnering the highest number of votes for President Goodluck Jonathan in the South West come next year’s polls.
Elegbeleye noted that the imminent move will finally end the struggle for supremacy by PDP and LP in the state.
“Both parties will now join forces to fight a common enemy in subsequent elections in the state,’’ he said.
Copyright: Vanguard
