Various communities in Kabba-Bunu local government area of Kogi State have made a loud statement today. The people staged one of the greatest mass defections as over 400 members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the African Democratic Congress (ADC) dumped their parties.
To make the matter worse, the defectors didn’t do it in the private. In fact, they hosted a wild ceremony to highlight the embarrassment to their former parties. They were largely drawn from Olle Oke Offin Ward in Kabba-Bunu local government area.
Leading the defection were former PDP and ADC leaders in the council area who gave different reasons for their actions.
Hon. Babatunde Yusuf, a prominent former PDP who also defected, blame the “greedy” leaders of his former party who stood on the rights of many to enrich themselves at the party’s expense. His principal, Asiwaju Olatunji Olusoji, who shared a very cordial relationship with Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo, was another reason Yusuf cited.
Former PDP leader Hon Michael Olubiyo also dumped his party for APC. According to him, the governor style of leadership was the greatest influence together with his communities’ relationship with State Security Adviser, retired Commander Jerry Omodara.
Commander Omodara, the State former Speaker Matthew Kolawole expressed optimism that APC has come to stay in Kogi, with party chieftains Alfred Bello and Nathaniel Ojo Taiwo commending those who organised the protest defection. The chairman of Ollie/Oke Offin Ward, Leke Amupitan.
Beyond the surface the real face behind the defection was the state security adviser, the Commissioner of Education, and the local government chairman.