Former Governor of Ondo State, Dr Olusegun Mimiko has rejoined the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), hours after meeting with four governors of the main opposition party in Ondo State.
Coming less than 24 hours to the PDP National Convention slated for Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), the development is seen as a deft move by the PDP to further spread its tentacles in the nation’s political space ahead of the 2023 general elections.
The Chairman of PDP’s Governors Forum and Sokoto state Governor, Aminu Tambuwal led the team of governors to Mimiko’s homestead with Oyo State governor, Seyi Makinde; Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers State; and Abia State Governor, Okezie Ikpeazu as part of the delegation.
Mimiko served as the 16th, and fifth civilian Governor of Ondo State from February 2009, to February 2017, and the latest defection to PDP is the third in recent times after leaving the party in 2019 to form the Labour Party (LP) and later to the Zenith Labour Party (ZLP).
A statement issued after about three hours meeting with the ZLP leaders and supporters at Mimiko’s Ondo country home quoted the State party chairman, Hon Joseph Akinlaja as saying; “stakeholders of the party from across the 18 Local Government areas of Ondo State have resolved to join the Peoples Democratic Party PDP after a meeting held at the residence of the party’s national leader, Dr Olusegun Mimiko in Ondo on Wednesday.
“The meeting, which has Dr Olusegun Mimiko, former Deputy Governor, Agboola Ajayi, his running mate, Gboye Adegbenro, former speaker, Jumoke Akindele, the State chairman of the party, Hon Joseph Akinlaja among other leaders in attendance, resolved after deliberations to pitch their tent with the Peoples Democratic Party to rescue the country from the misrule of APC and set her on a path of peace and progress for the benefit of all.
“The meeting followed an earlier visit by four PDP governors led by the chairman of their forum, Aminu Tambuwal of Sokoto State. Okezie Ikpeazu, Nyesom Wike, and Seyi Makinde had told the press after their meeting with Mimiko that they are in Ondo to invite Mimiko and his teeming supporters in the ZLP to the PDP.
“The stakeholders meeting was called to discuss the meeting with the PDP governors and intimate members with the outcomes of a series of interactions with PDP leaders on the invitation extended to him.
“Mimiko told the stakeholders that the ZLP is being invited to join the PDP to rescue the country from the brink of insecurity.”
According to the statement, having appraised developments across the nation, ZLP’s Stakeholders agreed that the “PDP is the most viable platform to work with to be able to work towards winning future elections in the State and in the country as a whole.
“Mimiko had earlier told members that leaders of the PDP have shown demonstrable commitment to fully integrate all willing joiners from the ZLP and accord them full membership rights in what promises to be a win for PDP members and Nigerians alike.
“After detailed deliberations by leaders across Local Government Areas, Hon Akinlaja, the State Chairman, asked that a motion moved for members of the ZLP in Ondo State to join the PDP be put to vote to which all present voted yes by popular acclamation.”
Earlier, Governor Tambuwal had, after about an hour closed-door meeting with Mimiko, said; “We are here in the beautiful of Ondo Town, in Ondo state the home of our leader, and brother, Dr Olusegun Mimiko, former governor of Ondo state to re-invite him back to his family, his political family, PDP and work towards rescuing Nigeria.
“I am here with the Governor of Abia, Rivers, and Oyo. We had a very robust engagement with Mimiko and are very optimistic to hear something very positive from him soonest. The message is simple, let’s come back to reposition the PDP and rescue the country. The urgency of the matter is now.”
Governor Tambuwal said; “We are rebuilding the political platform, the PDP, we are repositioning it towards ensuring that PDP is back to power in 2023”.
Also speaking on the PDP Governors’ visit, Dr Mimiko described it as ”one of the many engagements to woo him back to the party. This is one of the series of interactions we have had over the last few months.
“They have come to tell us why we should join forces with them in the PDP and the efforts they are making in repositioning the party.”
The former governor said; ”We have listened to them and going to have our stakeholders meeting and ultimately it’s the people, the stakeholders that will decide. We will give them information and they will take a decision.”
Addressing ZLP supporters after the closed-door meeting, Governor Wike urged them to support Mimiko’s return to the PDP, saying; “We are here because we know the importance of Iroko. We need everybody in the country to work together to rescue the country.
“It is everybody’s business to rescue this country. Tell him to join us so that we can move the country forward.”
With Mimiko to welcome the four PDP governors were his wife, Olukemi, former deputy governor, Hon Agboola Ajayi, three members of the Ondo state House of Assembly, Rasheed Elegbeleye, Tomide Akinribido, and Festus Akingbaso.
Also in the team that received the governors were former House speaker, Jumoke Akindele, former chief Judge, Olaseinde Kumuyi and deputy governorship Candidate of ZLP in the 2020 election, Gboye Adegbenro and Ondo State PDP chairman, Fatai Adams, his predecessor, Clement Faboyede, Ondo ZLP Chairman, Joseph Akinlaja among other ZLP leaders in the State.
