Osun Poll: Loyalist To Minister of Interior, Aregbesola, Dumps APC For PDP

Mr Kolapo Alimi, a former Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs in Osun State and a close ally to Minister of Interior, Rauf Aregbosola has defected the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) ahead of the State governorship poll slated for July 16.

Mr Alimi who announced his defection at the PDP secretariat in Osogbo on Wednesday, was a two-term commissioner during Aregbesola’s administration as governor of the state.

The former commissioner was also a staunch member of The Osun Progressives (TOP), a caucus within the chapter of All Progressives Congress (APC), supported by Aregbesola.

He was welcomed by the PDP governorship candidate in the state, Senator Ademola Adeleke, Caretaker Chairman of the party, Dr Akintunde Akindele and other PDP members, saying that he left APC because of marginalisation.

Although he said that Aregbesola could not leave APC because of his stake in it, the former commissioner, however, stated that he decided to dump the party because he could no longer withstand the maltreatment allegedly being unleashed on him and others.

He said,“We cried out to so many times without any solution.

“You know Aregbesola himself is a bigwig in APC. He cannot leave the party, but to some of us who can no longer withstand the heat that the state government is turning on us, we have to move out.”

Alimi, however, appealed to the people of the state to come out on July 16 to vote for PDP governorship candidate, Adeleke.

Meanwhile, Adeleke said Alimi’s defection to PDP would boost the chances of the party in the election.

He expressed confidence that he would win the election under a free and fair atmosphere.

“I want to thank President Muhammadu Buhari for signing the electoral bill into law,” he said, emphasising that this would prevent rigging during elections.

“I believe that the people of Osun will defend their votes during the governorship election,” he added.