Buhari appointee, others set to dump APC for PDP in Ondo

INDICATIONS emerged, on Tuesday, that the Chairman of the National Oil Spill Detection and Response Agency (NOSDRA), Senator Ayo Akinyelure, is set to dump the All Progressives Congress to rejoin the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

Akinyelure, the former lawmaker who represented the Ondo Central Senatorial districts, at the Senate in the Seventh National Assembly, had concluded all arrangements to dump APC.

It was gathered that the former lawmaker was interested in returning to the Senate but on the platform of the PDP which he dumped after the 2015 general election.

He contested for the gubernatorial ticket of APC in the state, losing the ticket to the state governor, Rotimi Akeredolu, but was however appointed as the Chairman of NOSDRA by President Muhammadu Buhari last year December.

A source disclosed to Nigerian Tribune that the former lawmaker had been registered as PDP member at Isalu-Ehinpeti, Ward 7 in Idanre Local Government Area of the state

Apart from obtaining PDP membership card in his ward, the NOSDRA boss was said to have obtained the N1 million Expression of Interest Form from the State Secretariat of PDP to enable him to contest in the party’s Senatorial primaries.

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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 source said.

Speaking on the development, the Publicity Director of PDP in the state, Ayo Fadaka, confirmed the looming defection of some members of the ruling APC to PDP.

Fadaka who disclosed that the lawmaker representing Owo/Ose federal constituency, Hon. Bode Ayorinde and Senator Ayo Akinyelure have concluded arrangement to join the party in the state.

He said some members of PDP that left the party after the 2015 general election has shown intention to rejoin the party in the state.