Osun 2014: I’ll defect to APC Saturday —Adeleke

A former Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), governorship aspirant, Senator Isiaka Adeleke, on Wednesday, confirmed that he would defect to the All Progressives Congress (APC) this Saturday. Despite denial some weeks back that he remained a bonafide member of the PDP, Adeleke, a former first governor of Osun, said: “It is true. I am declaring for APC and I can confirm that information.” Speaking on telephone on Wednesday, the former governorship aspirant, who boycotted the PDP’s April 5, 2014 primaries, said he was ready to pitch his tent with the ruling party in the state. However, investigation conducted by the Nigerian Tribune indicated that the Director- General of the Adeleke’s Campaign Organsiation, who was a former Speaker of the Osun State House of Assembly, Mr Adejare Bello and other close aides of the erstwhile governor, refused to follow him to the APC. Credible sources informed that apart from Bello, Adeleke’s director of media and publicity, Mr Taiwo Akeju, two PDP chairmen in Ede Senatorial District, loyalists and supporters declined to support the latest move of their principal. One of his close allies who spoke with the Nigerian Tribune under condition of anonymity, said, “I respect Adeleke so much. But, the decision he has taken is unfortunate and I believe it is personal and he has the right to do so. It should be noted that we are not following him to the APC.” Meanwhile, reactions have continued to trail the proposed defection, as Senator Iyiola Omisore, on Wednesday, said “he has taken a wrong decision at this time.” In a statement forwarded to journalists by his Director of Media and Strategy, Prince Diran Odeyemi, the PDP standard-bearer said “leaving the PDP when APC members are trooping to PDP on daily basis is obviously a wrong decision. “Though it is normal to wish him good luck, I can predict that he will be confronted with unpleasant situations in the APC that will make him regret leaving PDP.” “With his absence at a time we are about to commence our campaign, he is obviously not one of the people chosen by God to be part of our success story in August 9 election”.