The ranks of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Zenith Labour Party (ZLP) in Ondo State were depleted yesterday as 5,000 of them defected to the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

APC members including serving executive member from Idanre Local Government area of the state, Mr Lanre Olurakinse predicated their defection on the crisis rocking the party over primary election in the state while former ZLP members being led by Mr. Eric Samakin said they dumped the party because it lacked prospect of winning any election both at the state and the country.

Olurakinse, who spoke on behalf of defectors, expressed displeasure over allegations of lawlessness, recklessness and many lies laced with deceit from the leadership of the party.

He said: “APC is just like an occult group, since the coming of Oluwarotimi Akeredolu as the state governor, many of us who joined the party were not integrated into the party while the party has been unduly factionalised.

“The last primaries election of the party in Idanre local government produced three candidates from three different factions with the party not attending to the crisis. The politics of the party is dirty, oppressive, dictatorial and meant for some selfish few.

“The party brought hunger and hardship to the people of the state. Parents are now paying through their nose for their children in the state tertiary institutions.

Samakin, who is the leader of the ZLP, said they decided to dump the party to join forces with the PDP to install credible leadership in the country as there was nothing to show for government’s presence in the state, saying “there is no tangible development in the state in the last two years and there is no programme for the people of the state.”

Samakin, however, pledged the willingness of all defectors to work hard for the success of the PDP in the state.

PDP Chairman in the state, Clement Fanoyede, who was represented by chairman of the party in the local government, Mr. Bolu Ogunmolu, assured decampees that the PDP would provide a level playing ground for the new members.

“We will work together as a team and as a family. There is no discrimination here, let’s work together as a team and I am assuring you that you will all be accommodated,” PDP chairman said.”

Meanwhile, the PDP candidate for the House of Representatives, Hon. Kayode Akinmade, described the defection of the new members as a welcome development, saying the defection had shown the growing popularity of the party in the state.

•Sourced from New Telegraph report