21st October, 2014
Abiodun Onafuye,Abeokuta
Abeokuta, the capital city of Ogun state is agog as chieftains and leaders of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) gather to welcome former governor of the state and former leader of Labour Party (LP) Otunba Gbenga Daniel back to the party.
The entire city was this morning charged as security personnel were seen all round the city with the PDP State secretariat, venue of the event, located along IBB Boluveard, Oke Mosan, Abeokuta wearing a new look.
Investigation by PM News revealed that the Senate President, David Mark will be leading the pack of dignataries expected at the event, tagged, ‘Unification Rally’.
It would be recalled that Daniel at the twilight of his administration defected from PDP to found the Peoples Party of Nigeria, PPN with some aggrieved party members who were his loyalists after the crisis that split the ruling party then in the state.
After the 2011 election, Daniel’s PPN lost the gubernatorial election but won three seats in the State House of Assembly as well as councillors seat in Imeko Afon local government council.
The three lawmakers were John Obafemi, Remo North,Joseph Adegbesan, Ijebu North II and Salman Adeleke, Imeko Afon.
Speaking with our correspondent this morning, the PDP state secretary, Alhaji Semiu Sodipo confirmed that the Senate President, Ekiti state governor, Ayo Fayose and Prince Buruj Kashamu are among the dignitaries expected at the colourful event today.
He maintained that the party’s doors are still widely open for more people, including those from the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC.
“I can confirm to you that Otunba Gbenga Daniel is returning to the party with some of his people. He belongs here and he is back into the fold. We are expecting David Mark, Ayo Fayose, Prince Buruj Kashamu and other dignitaries. This is a unification gathering and a signal to the ruling All Progressive Congress that their days are numbered in the government.
“PDP is a party of the people, we are party of the grassroot. People of this state are tired of this government and they are earnestly yearning for the return of PDP and I can assure you that from today, we shall be counting the days of APC in this state. Ogun people are not happy with the style of governance and they want us to come back and give them good and peoples friendly government.
“With what is going to happen today, I want to confirm to you that there is no more bickering or internal wrangling within the party. We have learnt our lessons and we are ready to take the mantle of power back in the state. We are ready to accommodate more people, our doors are widely open for more people, even people from the ruling All Progressive Congress,” Sodipo stated.
Our correspondent reliably gathered that some members of the ruling All Progressive Congress, who are loyalists to the former governor of the state and a chieftain of APC, Chief Olusegun Osoba are also defecting to PDP today.
Posters of one of the governorship aspirant of the APC, Aremo Remilekun Bakare has flooded the city of Abeokuta with the logo of the PDP.
PM News can authoritatively report that the former president, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo will not be part of the event today as he is out of town.
Majority of the defected governorship candidates of Labour Party, LP in the state have begun pasting their posters all around the city with PDP logo.
There are indications that the selection of candidates into various positions may likely generate controversies ahead of 2015 general elections.