As reactions continue to trail the defection of former Ondo governor, Olusegun Mimiko, a former aide to Mimiko, says the decision to defect from the PDP to the Labour Party may not be the wisest. Mimiko, yesterday, announced his intention to move to the Labour Party following his defection from the Peoples Democratic Party. However, the Labour Party says his defection to the party will be resisted as he had abandoned the party in 2014.
An aide of the former governor, however, told our correspondent, Mary Chinda, Mimiko’s decision to defect from the PDP to the Labour Party is an unpopular one, even within the camp of supporters of the former governor. The aide, who did not want to be mentioned, told PlusTv Africa that Mimiko is alone in his action, as only two of his former key political appointees are defecting with him to the Labour Party.
He said the reason most of the former governor’s allies were staying put in PDP may not be unconnected with the fact that many of them are contesting various elections in next year’s general elections, and have already gone far with their campaigns, on the platform of the PDP. Mimiko had on Wednesday sent his letter of resignation of membership to the state leadership of the PDP announcing his plans to return to his former party, the LP.
The former Governor while appreciating the PDP for giving him a platform to serve, said his decision to leave the party was for some well-thought-out personal reasons. Asked what he feels might be the real reason be the real reason behind the planned defection, another aide of the ex-governor hinted that Mimiko was unhappy with the way some serving governors in the party had hijacked the party and were running it like their personal estate.
However, the planned defection took another twist yesterday, when Labour Party’s National Chairman, Mike Omotosho, told newsmen in Abuja that the former governor was not welcome in the party. He said Mimiko’s defection from the Labour Party in 2014, was an act of treachery and betrayal, particularly after his two-term victory on the party’s ticket. Omotosho had described Mimiko’s defection plan as an ill-fated adventure which will be resisted.
Meanwhile, Ondo State Chairman of the PDP, Clement Faboyede, said Mimiko’s exit from the party could not have any negative impact, saying the party was waxing stronger on daily basis.
Reports say Mimiko is to join the Labour Party in his hometown in Ondo, today.
