According to reports from PUNCH, hundreds of members from the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ondo State have announced their defection to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) on Wednesday.
The defectors, who are from the 208 wards and 18 local government areas of the state, said they were ready to work for the PDP governorship candidate, Agboola Ajayi, in order to secure victory in the November 16 election.
The mass defection was received by Ajayi and the state leadership of the PDP at the Akure town hall in the state capital.
Welcoming the new members, Ajayi, who is a former deputy governor of the state, emphasized the "suffering, hunger and anger" in Ondo caused by the alleged mismanagement of the APC-led government.
He promised that a PDP administration would provide a better alternative for the people of the state.
Ajayi urged the defectors to join hands with other PDP members to work towards winning the upcoming gubernatorial election, assuring them of equal rights and opportunities within the party.
The state PDP Chairman, Tola Alabere, echoed Ajayi's sentiments, stating that the party's "umbrella is wide enough to accommodate more new members" and promising fair treatment for the defectors.
Speaking on behalf of the defectors, the former APC Organizing Secretary in Akure South Local Government, Akinwande Fayinminu, cited a lack of internal democracy within the ruling party as the primary reason for their decision to leave.
"The APC lacks internal democracy, that is why they are factionalised. Since they came to power, they have not integrated many members of the party. They are operating the party like an occultic group. We can't stay in such a party any longer," Fayimimu stated.