By Abimbola Joseph
CITIZENS COMPASS – No fewer than 5,000 members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) members in Ikorodu Local Government Area(LGA) have defected to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in Lagos state.
Speaking at the event which took place over the weekend, the APC LGA Chairman, Alhaji Waheed Animashaun, who received the new entrants into the ruling party in Ikorodu LGA party secretariat at Ota-Ona area, assured them of equal treatment.
The Citizens Compass reports that the event attracted APC political gladiators and critical stakeholders in Ikorodu Local Government.
Animashaun, said elections would be held in all LG and Local Council Development Areas(LCDAs) and urged them to be present at the ward meeting for recognition and integration as party members with their Permanent Voters Cards(PVC) as their weapon.
“Our doors are always open to defectors from opposition parties in Ikorodu LG, with assurance of equal right to everybody whether old or new.
“This defection is an indication that APC is generally accepted in Ikorodu, which is an assurance of our party’s victory in the coming council elections.,” he said.
Animashaun, lauded the decampees decision to join the ruling party, saying it was a clear indication that the APC administration had performed credibly well, both at the council level, federal and state levels, adding that
He appealed to both new and old members to validate their membership card and promised that vehicles would be made available to convey them for registration and transfer of Permanent Voters Card(PVC) to polling units nearest to them.
Earlier, Mr Olugbenga Shittu, who led his supporters from PDP said that it was a collective decision by his members having seen the achievements of APC -led administration and developments going on in the local government area.
Shittu, who contested for Ikorodu Federal House of Representative in the 2023 National Assembly election under the umbrella of PDP express gratitude to APC leadership for receiving and accepting him and his supporters with love.
In his remarks, Prince Abiodun Ogunleye, former Deputy Governor of Lagos State, urged the people to get their APC membership card, vote for APC in the coming council election and assure members of landslide victory.
Ogunleye urged members to support the Renewed Hope Agenda and policies of President Bola Tinubu(GCFR) as it is geared towards the betterment of the citizens and economic growth of Nigeria.
“The PVC is your power, come out enmas and vote for landslide victory in the coming council election ,” he said.
Also speaking, Wasiu Adesina, Chairman of Ikorodu Local Government said his administration is giving out free jamb forms to youths who were interested in furthering their education to higher institutions and urged parents to inform their wards.
Adesina, also promised to commence payment of monthly stipends to 140 elderly persons till the end of his administration and directed ward chairmen to forward names of 70-years and above members to his office for cash processing.
“All the seven ward chairmen should forward the names of 20 elderly people in each ward to my office for monthly stipends,” he said.
