Mimiko, Obi will defect to our party - PDP

The Peoples Democratic Party has said all is set for the defection of the Ondo State Governor, Dr. Olusegun Mimiko, and his Anambra State counterpart, Mr. Peter Obi, to the ruling party as the 2015 elections approach.

Mimiko is the only governor on the platform of the Labour Party, just as Obi is the only one from the All Progressives Grand Alliance.

Both Obi and Mimiko are serving their second term as governors.

There have been speculations about the duo's planned defection following their intense hobnobbing with the PDP.

On Tuesday, both Mimiko and Obi attended a meeting between PDP governors and PDP lawmakers at the National Assembly. The National Working Committee of the party was also at the meeting.

Again on Thursday, President Goodluck Jonathan said Obi's services would be required at the national level, when he steps down as governor in March.

The Supervising Minister of Education, Mr. Nyesom Wike, who represented the President at schools facilities distribution in Awka, Anambra State capital, said the governor had done so well that the Federal Government was desirous of employing his services.

Wike said, 'We will need his services at the national level.'

When the Rivers State Governor Rotimi Amaechi was re-elected as Chairman, Nigeria Governors Forum with 19 votes on May 24, 2013, the two governors had pitched their tent with their PDP counterparts led by the Plateau State Governor, Jonah Jang, who had 16 votes. They also belong to the Jang-led factional NGF.

Confirming the planned defection, the Chairman, PDP, Osun State, Gani Olaoluwa, on Saturday said Mimiko had concluded arrangements with the leadership of the PDP to defect from the Labour Party to the ruling party. Olaoluwa said this while speaking to journalists in Osogbo, on the preparedness of the PDP for the August 9, 2014, governorship election in the state.

He said, 'Arrangements have been concluded with Governor Olusegun Mimiko of Ondo State to defect from the LP to the PDP.

'The PDP is gaining and we are attracting heavyweight politicians to the party. (Ex- Kano State Governor, Ibrahim) Shekarau has come to the PDP and you can see that we are winning and that is just the beginning.'

Also, the Deputy National Publicity Secretary, PDP, Mr. Abdullahi Jalo, said the planned defection of the governors was 'one of the fruits of the reconciliatory efforts embarked upon by our new chairman, Adamu Mu'azu.' Punch