Aregbesola loyalist, Alimi defects to PDP

By Deborah Oladejo, Osogbo

A former Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs in Osun State, Kolapo Alimi on Wednesday defected to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

The ex-commissioner, had been rumoured for months to have defected to the PDP.

The Erin Osun-born politician served as a two-term commissioner in the administration of former Governor, Rauf Aregbesola.

Alimi was a staunch member of The Osun Progressives (TOP), a caucus within the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the state, backed by Aregbesola who is now the Minister of Interior.

He was received at the PDP secretariat in Osogbo by the governorship candidate of the party, Senator Ademola Adeleke, Caretaker. Chairman, Dr. Akintunde Akindele and other leaders and members.

Speaking with journalists on his defection, Alimi accused Governor Gboyega Oyetola of sidelining those that were ally of Aregbesola. 

He said: “Any political observer that has been monitoring political development in the state will know that shortly after the inauguration of Governor Adegboyega Oyetola, he started divisive politics against those he perceived as loyalists of Aregbesola.

“We have cried out to so many quarters without any solution. You know Aregbesola himself is a bigwig in APC; he cannot leave the party. But to those of us that can no longer withstand the heat that Oyetola is using against us, we have to move out. 

“We know that by the grace of God, Oyetola will lose. There is no amount of power, intimidation or threat that can save him. He has come, he has divided the party, those that worked for him, he alienated them. His days are numbered as Governor of the state.”

In his remarks, Adeleke, who felt elated about the defection, said the chances of PDP is growing daily.

Reacting to the possibility of the election being rigged, he said: “The new electoral law, signed by President Muhammadu Buhari has reduced chances of anyone trying to rig election.  “So, I believe that a lot of people in Osun State are wiser. They are ready to defend their votes so I don’t believe it going to be possible.”