Hundreds of members of the Social Democratic Party in Ondo State have dumped the party for the ruling All Progressives Congress.
The mass defection, which happened on Saturday, came four months to the November 16 governorship election in the state.
The defectors included some state executive members of the SDP and members from the 18 local government areas of the state.
They expressed their readiness to support Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa of the APC to retain his seat.
They added that they had collapsed their statewide structure for the APC and had named it Social Democratic All Progressives Congress.
Welcoming the detectors to the ruling party, at the SDP office in Akure, Aiyedatiwa expressed his appreciation to them, promising that they would not regret joining the “winning team.”
Aiyedatiwa, who was represented by his deputy, Mr Olayide Adelami, said, “The Social Democratic-All Progressives Congress will be given room to operate free as there is no segregation in our party.
“I want to assure all of you that you will not regret coming to the APC. We will also ensure that all your interests are protected. You have joined the winning team and we will win together.”
Speaking, one of the leaders of the defectors, Dr. Tope Ajulo, said they decided to dump the SDP following a lack of fairness and justice, particularly at the national level.
Ajulo said, “Our (SDP) national leaders are fond of using the party to negotiate at every election season. This diminishes the party and takes away its credibility. At every point in time of election, the leaders at the national level do trade off the party, neglecting those in states.”
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