Date: 2018-11-13

About one thousand, two hundred supporters of the All Progressives Congress (APC) under the aegis of Oloje Like-Minds Youths Liberation Forum in Oloje Ward of Ilorin West Local Government Area of Kwara State have defected to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

The Special Adviser on Political Matters to the state Governor, Alhaji Toyin Olokooba, received the defectors at the event to welcome them into the PDP fold held in Ilorin.

Addressing Journalists after the brief ceremony, Alhaji Olokooba said the defection of the political group into the PDP was an indication that those who chose to remain in opposition would derive no benefit.

He urged them to join the winning team because according to him, only the PDP can take them to the promised land.

Alhaji Olokooba said he took delight with the decision of the political group to team up with the PDP and warned against divisive tendencies.

The Governor's aide assured that the leadership of the PDP in the state would not discriminate against any member of the party regardless of whether old or new, saying every member would be accorded their rights and privileges.

Also speaking, a former Chairman of Ilorin West Local Government Area, Alhaji Tajudeen Sulu Oloje, said the defection of the group into the PDP symbolised that the party would win 2019 general elections in the area.

The Coordinator of the Group, Mr. Luqman Abdulsalam Jaji, who led the defectors into the PDP, said their action was encouraged by the uncommon leadership qualities exhibited by the President of the Senate, Doctor Abubakar Bukola Saraki and were willing to support him.

Mr. Luqman Jaji, who spoke on behalf of the decampees, said they took the decision to join the PDP because Doctor Saraki attended to them in a manner they did not expect.

He noted that the Senate President had facilitated provision of infrastructure to Oloje community and only way to appreciate his kind gesture was to join him to collectively secure victory for the PDP in the state.

Mr. Luqman-Jaji, however, appealed to Doctor Saraki to assist the youth of the area with employment opportunities in federal establishments so as to curb prevailing restiveness among them.