Things Have Not Been Right Since Mimiko Joined PDP – Former State Chairman

The Ondo state secretariat of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has been sealed by the State Governor Olusegun Mimiko’s decamping to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) continues tearing the party apart in the state as the State Command of the Police yesterday sealed the party’s State Secretariat, following the dissolution of the state working committee and their rejection of the national body’s decision.

No fewer than 12 policemen have been deployed to the secretariat in Akure, the capital city, to prevent breakdown of law and order, who turned back all staff of the secretariat yesterday, reports say.

Police Public Relations Officer in the state, Wole Ogodo, however said he was not aware of the presence of policemen at the party secretariat.

“I do not know anything about the deployment of policemen to the PDP secretariat, but I will find out and get back to you,” Vanguard quoted him as saying.

Some leaders of the party had since been invited to a meeting in Abuja to find a lasting solution to the crisis by the National Working Committee of the party. Governor Olusegun Mimiko will also attend the meeting.

Some aggrieved members of the party have threatened to defect to the APC, with the APC said to be poaching the sacked executive members of the PDP in the state.

Former state Chairman, Hon. Ebenezer Alabi has condemned the sealing of the party secretariat by the police.

“It is very unfortunate that this is happening in our party. We have been using the secretariat since 1998 and nothing of such had ever happened. Since the governor joined our party things have not been right,” Alabi said.

He however expressed optimism that justice would be done. “Since we are already in court, we hope to get justice at the end of the day,” Alabi said.

Governor Mimiko left the Labour Party earlier in the month after what looked like lengthy persuasions by the ruling party, as Mimiko has promised to decamp and failed several times.

“It is in the light of the foregoing that I, Dr. Olusegun Mimiko, following extensive consultations across the land, today formally announce the decision of members of National Assembly from the LP in Ondo State, members of the LP in the Ondo State House of Assembly, members of the State Executive Council and indeed all those who share our aspirations, to join the PDP,” the governor had said at a well attended event held at the State House, in Abuja.

“This decision arose after a period of consultation with major stakeholders in Ondo State, which include the aforementioned as well as traditional and religious leaders, market men and women, artisans, trade unions and community as well as party leaders.”