Alao-Akala Dumps Labour Party For APC

alao_akalaA former governor of Oyo State and candidate of Labour Party (LP) in the April 11 governorship elections in the state, Chief Adebayo Alao-Akala, has declared his intention to defect to the governing All Progressives Congress (APC) over what he termed “the reality of the moment”.

Alao-Akala, who was formerly of the Peoples Democratic Party before he crossed over to LP to actualize his governorship ambition, spoke of his decision to join the APC at a meeting he held in his Ibadan residence with his supporters on the Destiny Group platform.

In attendance at the meeting were Hon Tajudeen Abisodun, Dr. Gbola Adetunji, Sen Brimo Yusuf, Dr Kola Balogun, Alhaji Omilabu Ghandi, among other politicians in the state.

According to the ex-governor, the decision to leave Labour Party had become expedient considering that the different political parties were set to commence their congresses, as well as the fact that “APC offered the best political platform” at the moment.

He noted that a date for a formal declaration for the APC would be made public as soon as he finished consultation with the leadership of the party.

Otunba Alao-Akala while calling on his supporters to join him in the APC, however, advised that lawmakers elected on the platform of Labour Party from the state should remain in the party in the meantime.

Shedding light on the development, the erstwhile Director of Alao Akala Campaign Organisation, Dr Kola Balogun, who the ex-governor asked to speak on his behalf, described his principal’s decision as “a response to the yearnings of supporters who wondered what their next step was on the political scene”.

He said, “The party members had been asking Alao Akala what our next step would be considering our not-too-good experience with the Labour Party and with the PDP. Alao Akala had said that at the right time, he would call a meeting where we would jointly decide after looking at all options available.  We looked at the available options which are PDP, Labour, Accord, APC. Accord is not an option, Labour is not an option at all.

“For APC, we have never had any dealings with them. We have only been interacting with the APC and they are waiting for us to help strengthen the structure of the party. The APC knows our worth politically, we also know their worth. We think if we come together, we can solidify the structure of the APC. APC will be a mega party.

“And, the majority of members have made up their mind and advised him to join the APC. The final decision therefore is that all supporters of Alao Akala will join APC. We will inform the general public on when we will make a formal declaration after meeting with the leadership of the APC”.