A former senator and the first civilian governor of Osun State, Isiaka Adeleke, was welcomed by his new party, the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the capital city of the state, Osogbo, on May 31, 2014.
The defector tagged the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the one which supports and cultivates violence and thuggery.
* Senator Isiaka Adetunji Adeleke, Chief Bisi Akande, and Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola. Photo credit – @Ayoappeal
Adeleke’s move was followed by dozens of ex-PDP Chiefs and by thousands of supporters. He explained that had no longer felt safe in the PDP following an alleged assault on by the Minister of Police Affairs, Jelili Adesiyan.
* Sen. Isiaka Adeleke along Osun PDP Deputy Chairman, 8-PDP Osun elders, 5 ex-PDP lawmakers, 31-PDP Chairmen and over 3000. Photo credit – @bolailori
The former senator revealed that the leaders of the ruling party offered him to run the guber race in Osun, as they had realised that Iyiola Omisore had no chance to beat the current Governor of Osun State, Rauf Aregbesola.
But then Adeleke was allegedly betrayed and hounded:
“I was asked to come and vie for governorship that Omisore is not capable, I accepted, but a day to the congress I got to the hotel in Osogbo. The people I sent there were on the floor with guns pointed at their heads and I told the police that they are members of our party from Ede.
“I then moved towards the room where I met Sogo Agboola, Jelili Adesiyan, Iyiola Omisore, Gani Olaoluwa and others. As I was about explaining what happened outside to the Minister, he descended on me with blows. So also was Omisore and others.”
The aggrieved former governor further said that working for Omisore would equal working for a criminal.
* Another photo from a welcoming ceremony by APC on May 31. Photo credit – Premium Times
In his speech at the event, governor Aregbesola stated Omisore lacked the mental capacity to govern the state. By this he meant the values the candidate is notorious for are alien to the people of Yorubaland.
The Interim National Chairman of the APC, Chief Bisi Akande, expressed happiness over Adeleke’s defection, Omisore, his team and political campaign became jittery, and more of it would emerge before the election.
The Governor of Ekiti State, Kayode Fayemi, of Ekiti State declared that Adeleke’s move was not really surprising, noted that the ex governor was coming home.
* Gov Kayode Fayemi joins the event to welcome Sen Isiaka Adeleke into the Progressives family. Photo credit – @OsunForOgbeni
Defection of such a significant political figure gives another boost to Aregbesola’s chances to secure a victory at August 9 polls. The APC thinks PDP would not be able to get more than 5% in August election in Osun.
* Crowd welcomes the newcomers. Photo credit – @bolailori
