Ondo: 13 PDP lawmakers joined my change train in 3 months ―Akeredolu

THE Ondo State governor, Mr Rotimi Akeredolu, on Wednesday said the ship of development has berth in the state, saying no fewer than 13 lawmakers have joined the change train within his three months in office in the state.

Akeredolu stated this while receiving five lawmakers of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) who dumped the party for the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in the state.

The governor who expressed his readiness to work with all the members of the House of Assembly towards a warm executive-legislature relationship for the progress of the state.

He commended the courage of the new entrants to join the change train in developing the state, saying that the lawmakers remained asset to the party in the state.

He however pleaded with members of the APC and the people of the State to be patient with his administration as things would gradually take shape.

Welcoming the lawmakers into the party, the Deputy chairman of the party, Ade Adetimehin, congratulated the lawmaker for choosing to dump the “sinking PDP ship” for the APC.

Expressing optimism that more PDP lawmakers would still join the APC, Adetimehin assured the new members that the party would give them a level playing ground in the party.

Adetimehin expressed optimism that more PDP lawmakers would still join the APC, while he assured the new members that the party would give them a level playing ground in the party.

Five members of the PDP in the State House of Assembly, including the former Deputy Speaker of the House, Fatai Olotu, dumped the party for the ruling APC in the state.

Other members of PDP who joined the ruling APC included:  Hon Akinyele Fasogbon (Odigbo II), Hon Kuti Towase (Akoko South East), Hon Bimbo Fajolu (Ileoluji/Okeigbo) and Hon Tuyi Akintimehin (Idanre).

The defection of the five members brought the number of APC lawmakers in the state House of Assembly to 18 with eight PDP members, giving the ruling party the two-third majority needed to make any decision in the House of Assembly

One of the former PDP lawmakers, Hon Abayomi Akinruntan, who also joined APC last month, had reportedly facilitated the decision of more of his colleagues to join the ruling party.

Those present at the event included the Deputy Governor, Hon Agboola Ajayi; Secretary to the State Government, Hon Ifedayo Abegunde; Speaker of the House of Assembly, Hon Bamidele Oleyeloogun, and party leaders from across the State.