The immediate past governor of Ondo State, Dr. Olusegun Mimiko will in the coming days officially dump the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) to return to the Labour Party (LP).
Mimiko, who ruled the state for eight years, became governor on the platform of the Labour Party in 2009 before he defected to the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in 2014.
Since the December 2017 elective convention of the PDP, the former governor had expressed displeasure over the outcome of the convention that produced Prince Uche Secondus led National Working committee of the party.
He was said to be aggrieved on the manner of which he was schemed of out things in the party allegedly by Rivers State Governor, Nyesome Wike and his Ekiti State counterpart, Ayodele Fayose.
A close ally of Dr. Mimiko, who spoke with our correspondent on the condition of anonymity at the weekend, confirmed the development.
He noted that the former governor would make his intention known at his political ward in Ondo town on June 6 before the state declaration billed for June 14 ahead of the 2019 general elections.
His words: “My brother, we have been having series of meetings at Oga’s (Dr. Mimiko) residence in the last few days where he informed his supporters across the state about his movement to Labour Party.
“He is expected to meet his people in Ondo at the ward level on June 6 and intimate them of his imminent defection and by June 14, all things remaining equal, he will make his official declaration at the state level.
“It will interest you that people in the 18 local government areas of the state, including some of his aides and political appointees when he was governor will join him to move to the party.”
When contacted by our correspondent, the Director of Media and Publicity of PDP in Ondo State, Ayo Fadaka said Mimiko’s defection would not affect the fortune of the party in the state.
“The PDP is a very big party that can be likened to orange tree and if you pluck from it, it does not kill the orange. Therefore the party will survive.
“Dr Mimiko is one of the big fish that left the PDP before and the party is still striving now, we will just hope all these are rumour and that it will not come to happen.
“We really love Dr. Mimiko and always want to be part of his political planning. we are hoping he will not leave, and if he does, the party (PDP) will survive. (The Politico)