Politics
2019: APC faction, Oyinlola, Mimiko meet Ladoja, plan merger in Southwest
A faction of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in Oyo State, a former governor of Osun state, Olagunsoye Oyinlola and former Ondo state governor, Olusegun Mimiko on Monday in a separate meetings with the former governor of Oyo State, Senator Rasidi Ladoja discussed merger of opposition parties in the southwest states.
The meetings were held at Ondo street, Bodija, Ibadan residence of the former Governor of the state, High Chief Rashidi Ladoja.
A source close to Ladoja hinted that the meetings were not unconnected with the permultation of the major opposition parties in the southwest ahead of the 2019 general elections.
At the meeting, in Ladoja’s team were the former secretary to the Oyo state government, Barr. Sharafadeen Alli, Senator Femi Lanleyin, PDP leaders in Oyo State, Prince Yemi Aderibigbe, Barrister Bayo Lawal, Dr. Nureni Adeniran, Engineer Nureni Adisa, Arch Bashiru Lawal and Hon. Bimbo Adepoju.
Ex-Ondo State Governor and Labour Party Chieftain, Mimiko in a group photograph with former Oyo state governor, Sen Ladoja and team
Former Osun State Governor, Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola who arrived at Ladoja’s house around 9:am on Monday also told journalists that the meeting was not political.
His words, “I am here to visit my brother.”
Also, after the meeting, Mimiko who recently defected back to Labour Party, (LP) also declined comment, but later said: “this is a private visit, please.
Mega Icon Magazine checks revealed that the two former governors visited Ladoja to woo him into their parties as a result of the seven days ultimatum given to the National Working Committee (NWC) of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) by the Ladoja’s group, following the crisis in the state chapter of the party.
” We have not decided now. We are going to meet with our leader, Ladoja to decide our next move but we may have a merger at the end of the day,” the source affirmed.
He noted that after the meetings, the former governor and his team would need to review the visits before announcing their next move.
Ladoja recently issued a seven-day ultimatum to the NWC of the PDP over some unsettled crisis rocking the state chapter of the party.
The APC faction otherwise known as ‘Unity Forum’ in the other hand, after a face-off with the governor of the state, Senator Abiola Ajimobi threatened to quit the party, if the NWC refuses to address the crisis.