Members of the Osun State House of Assembly from Osun West Senatorial District alleged to be planning to dump the ruling All Progressives Congress, have denied considering defection to the opposition Peoples Democratic Party in the state.
The lawmakers, who described the PDP as a “dead political party,” insisted that they had no plan to defect to the opposition party, as being speculated on social media.
The news about their planned defection to the PDP had gone viral on social media shortly after the ruling APC lost the just-concluded Osun West Senatorial bye-election to the opposition party.
It’s all lies and an attempt to divide the House
The affected lawmakers, who are mostly from the ten local government areas that make up the Osun West Senatorial District, were said to have been chided by their party leaders for failing to deliver their constituencies during last Saturday’s bye-election. This was said to have infuriated the assembly members, who allegedly began to consider defecting to the PDP.
Those alleged to be planning defection from the APC include the Deputy Speaker of the Assembly, Hon. Adegboye Akintunde, representing Osogbo Local Government; Hon. Osuolale Bello of Boripe/Boluwaduro; Hon Olarewaju Azees; Olaolu Oyeniran, representing Odo-Otin; Lekan Olatunji representing Ife North and Hon. Akin Taiwo, representing Ayedaade Local Government.
Others are Hon. Adeleke Ogunsola representing Ayedire Local Government and Hon. Oluseye Akinloye representing Olaoluwa Local Government.
But in a chat with our correspondent, the deputy speaker denied that the lawmakers had any plan to defect to the PDP, insisting that the opposition party was not a platform that any member of the APC should give any consideration.
He added that the fact the PDP won the Osun West bye-election did not make it a viable party.
Akintunde, who spoke on behalf of the other affected lawmakers, said, “There is no iota of truth in that rumour. I have no time to think of leaving my party, APC, or discuss with anybody not to talk of having any ill-feeling against the party or the government of the day. I have equally sampled the opinions of my colleagues mentioned in that rubbish Facebook posting. It’s all lies and an attempt to divide the House and to discredit both the party, APC and the government of Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola.
“It is never in my character to jump from one party to another. I am unlike them and they should desist from this act of blackmailing. And more so, which party are they talking about? PDP, a dead party? I represent the good people of Osogbo State Constituency in the House of Assembly of Osun and at no time was I asked to either disown this government or the governor, who has done well to my constituency, which is still asking for more. The posting still remains the figment of the imagination of the writer and my advice to him is to retract the said jargon before he gets the wrath of God.”
