Date: 2015-03-27

Senator Gbemisola Rukayyat Saraki who has been consistently speculated to have defected from Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to All Progressives Congress (APC) may have finally declared for APC ahead of the general elections on Saturday.

Gbemisola who is the first daughter of Second Republic Senate Leader Olusola Saraki, was a governorship aspirant of PDP.

Since the conclusion of the PDP primaries which produced Senator Simeon Ajibola as the party's flag bearer, there have been speculations that Gbemi had severed her membership of PDP following grumbling of marginalisation emanating from her supporters.

Besides, she had distanced herself from the activities of PDP in recent times even as there is division in the state PDP over her membership of the party.

While some are of the opinion that she should be begged and prevailed upon to remain in PDP, others insist she should be allowed to exercise her volition, insisting her defection would not blight the party's chance in the state.

However, Gbemi who had been in Abuja for the past two weeks where she reportedly had reconciliatory meetings with PDP top notches arrived Ilorin on Friday amidst massive reception by her supporters at the Ilorin International airport.

Daily Trust reliably gathered that Gbemi who addressed her supporters upon arrival asked them to vote for APC in Saturday’s presidential election.

One of her ardent followers who was at the briefing confirmed to our correspondent where Gbemi was quoted as asking them “to go out tomorrow (Saturday) with your broom and sweep your communities clean” apparently directing them to vote for APC presidential candidate, General Mohammadu Buhari.

When contacted, the PDP Chairman in the state, Chief Iyiola Oyedepo told our correspondent that he cannot confirm whether or not Gbemi has defected.

He said, "I think so but I cannot confirm it. Somebody sent me a text message that she said that there may be dirty things tomorrow and she is urging all her supporters to sweep very clearly tomorrow and that can be interpreted."

Oyedepo said if she is contemplating defection, he would encourage her not to leave, adding that the PDP would not miss her if she decides to defect.