Politics
More trouble for APC as Buhari appointee allegedly gets set to defect to PDP
– The chairman of the National Oil Spill Detection and Response Agency (NOSDRA), Senator Ayo Akinyelure, is reportedly getting set to defect from the APC to the PDP in Ondo
– Akinyelure was appointed as NOSDRA boss by President Buhari; but reportedly wants to rejoin the PDP, so as to return to the Senate
– His alleged looming defection has reportedly been confirmed by the PDP’s director of publicity in the state, Ayo Fadaka
There are indications that Senator Ayo Akinyelure, chairman of the National Oil Spill Detection and Response Agency (NOSDRA), is gearing up to defect from the All Progressives Congress (APC) and rejoin the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
According to Tribune, the former lawmaker who is interested in returning to the red chamber on the platform of the PDP, has concluded plans to exit the APC.
Tracknews.ng notes that Akinyelure, who dumped the PDP for the APC after the 2015 general elections, previously represented the Ondo central senatorial district during the dispensation of the Seventh National Assembly.
He subsequently contested for the APC governorship ticket in the state, but lost out to Rotimi Akeredolu who eventually emerged as governor. Akinyelure was then appointed as chairman of NOSDRA by President Muhammadu Buhari, in December 2017.
However, a source reportedly stated that Akinyelure had not only registered as a PDP member at Isalu-Ehinpeti, Ward 7 in Idanre local government area of the state; but that the former lawmaker had also obtained the N1 million Expression of Interest form from the state secretariat of the PDP to enable him contest in the party’s senatorial primaries.
The source said: “I can confirm to you that in a matter of days, Senator Akinyelure will leave APC and return to his former party, PDP. The reasons why he dumped PDP shortly after the 2015 elections no longer exist in the party.
“What is now left is for him to officially announce his resignation from APC. He has picked up his PDP membership card at his ward in Idanre. If you care to know, his membership card number is 005.
“He is seeking to return to the Senate. He has obtained his Expression of Interest form to enable him to contest for the PDP senatorial ticket.
“You are in this state and you know that Dr Akinyelure is popular among the people of Ondo central senatorial district. People have started mobilising and working for him in the state chapter of the party.”
The development was also reportedly confirmed by the PDP’s director of publicity in the state, Ayo Fadaka; who further disclosed that some members of the opposition party who exited after the 2015 general elections, have expressed interest in rejoining the party in the state.
Meanwhile, Tracknews.ng previously reported that Comrade Issa Aremu, the general secretary of the National Union of Textiles and Garment Workers of Nigeria (NUTGWN), chided politicians who recently defected to other political parties; referring to them as being without principle.
Aremu, who wants to contest for the Kwara governorship seat in 2019, made the comment as he presented his Expression of Interest form to the national chairman of the Labour Party, Alhaji Abdulkadir Abdulsalam.
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