Oyo ZLP stalwart, others debunk defection to APC

A Chieftain of the Zenith Labour Party (ZLP) in Oyo state, Comrade Wole Abisoye   and some members of the party have refuted the recent media report that they left the political platform and joined the All Progressives Congress (APC).

Also, the ZLP stakeholders described the report as untrue and misleading.

At a well attended meeting in Ibadan, Oyo state capital, on Wednesday, leadership of the now moribund ZLP insisted that majority of its members have joined the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

They, therefore pledged their loyalty to the  Seyi Makinde- led PDP government in the state.

The meeting, presided over by Comrade Wole Abisoye, former state chairman of ZLP also had in attendance former local government chairmen, stalwarts and other party faithfuls across the thirty-three local governments.

ZLP chieftains, who also attended the stakeholders’ meeting included: Comrade Sulaiman Adedokun, Chief Raimi Jalaruru, Evangelist Suberu Ademola, Hon. Olasunkanmi Okunlola, and Mr Dele Ladoja

Others are,  Hon. Okunola Saheed Ademola, Hon. Kunle Oduola, Mr. Raheem Oguntade Idris, Mrs Bola Olaniyi, among other leaders were in attendance.

The chairman of Governor Advisory Council, Senator Hosea Agboola was also present at the meeting.

Speaking at the meeting, Abisoye maintained that the majority of the ZLP members across the thirty-three local governments have returned to the PDP since two weeks ago.

Debunking the statement that ZLP has been collapsed into the APC and members of Senator Rashidi Ladoja’s political group have also joined the opposition party in the state, Abisoye said nothing could be farther from the truth

He clearly stated  that their political leader and former governor of Oyo state, Senator Ladoja is no longer a card carrying member of any political party.

On the claim of other group that their moving to APC has the blessing of Senator Ladoja, Abisoye warned that nobody should drop the name of Ladoja for their selfish goals.

“When APC senators from Oyo state at various times approached Senator Ladoja to join their party, he (Ladoja)  made no commitment but rather leave the matter to be decided by the leaders of the ZLP”,  Abisoye added.

Giving hindsight on how he and other local government chairmen returned to PDP, the former ZLP chairman said when the Apex members of the party met, he took his stand not to join the APC but PDP.

This according to him led huge numbers of members to move en masse to PDP across the state.

Abisoye added that he was happy that ZLP members have been restored and fully integrated into the PDP, calling on others who have been deceived to move into the All Progressives Congress (APC) to retrace their steps and return to the right place.

Giving reasons for joining the PDP, some leaders who spoke at the meeting acknowledged developmental strides currently going on in every local government of the state.

For this reason, they said gave them conviction to join the train and thereby pledged their unflinching support for the administration of Governor Seyi Makinde.

Remarking at the meeting, Senator Agboola lauded the ZLP stakeholders for taking the crucial decision to “return home” and team up with Governor Makinde’s administration.

He added that they would be treated equally as other members of the party, adding that they would not be left out in the sharing of positions, even after the local government election in May.