A former Speaker of the Ondo State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Malachi Coker and the majority leader, Hon. Olugbenga Araoyinbo have defected from the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, to the All Progressives Congress, APC.
According to the lawmakers, the impressive performance of Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu in a little above two months in office were the reasons their constituents mounted pressure on them to dump PDP.
Ondo State governor, Mr Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, SAN, receiving the two lawmakers of the state House of Assembly, Hon Olugbenga Araoyinbo (Majority Leader) and Hon Malachi Coker
The ceremony of their formal declaration and acceptance into the party took place at the Cocoa Conference Hall of the Governor’s office in Akure in the presence of the State Governor, Arakunrin Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, SAN, the Speaker, Rt Hon. Bamidele Oleyelogun, Deputy Speaker, Rt.Hon. Iroju Ogundeji , Secretary to the State Government, Hon.Ifedayo Abegunde and the Deputy State Chairman of APC , Engineer Ade Adetimehin with some serving and past lawmakers, several party chieftains and representatives of the supporters of the two lawmakers from their respective constituencies.
In his address Rt. Hon. Malachi Coker, representing Ilaje 2 itemised the proposed Ondo -Ibeju Lekki Road and the governor’s fairness by giving his constituency the slot of OSOPADEC Chairman seat as part of the masses orientated decisions of the State Governor which attracted him and his supporters to the APC.
Also speaking on the occasion, Hon. Olugbenga Araoyinbo, representing Akoko North West 2 described Governor Akeredolu as a silent operator who had touched many lives in less than three months in office.
Accepting the lawmakers to the Party, the Deputy State Chairman, Engineer Ade Adetimehin assured them of fairness and smooth integration into the APC family.
In his remarks the State Governor Arakunrin Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, SAN, commended the lawmakers for their bold steps at moving the state significantly forward and urged the remaining legislators to follow suit.
Arakunrin Akeredolu who said he was looking up towards the day those in position of authority would take decisions in the interest of the state rather than on partisan basis maintained that people of the state have accorded him much responsibilities which would not be compromised.
