By Bukola Olamona

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The chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ondo State, Ade Adetimehin, has boasted that the party will continue to rule Ondo State and Nigeria, adding that victory for the party in the forthcoming governorship election in the state is non-negotiable.

Adetimehin, who stated this in Idanre, headquarters of the Idanre Local Government Area of the State, while welcoming scores of defectors who dumped the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) with a former lawmaker at the National Assembly, Senator Ayo Akinyelure.

The APC Chairman maintained that the PDP camp had been depleted in the area and in the state, noting that prominent politicians from the state have dumped the party and joined the progressive train.

Adetimehin said the APC is being repositioned and is ready to work with all progressives to ensure that it remains a party to beat in any election, attributing the success story of the party to the developmental feats recorded by the Akeredolu-led administration in the state.

He said with the defection of Akinyelure and his supporters from the opposition party, the PDP in the state has gone into extinction, saying the party will continue to lose its members and leaders ahead of the next governorship election in the state.

“The next governorship election is not negotiable; we have continued to wax stronger day by day because we have been able to deliver the dividends of democracy to our people, and there is no crisis or division in APC in Ondo State.

“I can assure you that within the next couple of months, the PDP would have gone into extinction, with no leader left in the PDP, considering how members of the PDP and their leaders are leaving its fold in droves to join the ruling party.

He, however, described the former Senator and his followers’ defection to APC as a blessing and said the defection could not have come at a better time than now, saying, “I can assure you that Senator Akinyelure’s defection to APC is a blessing to the party as well as its members at all levels.”

Speaking on his defection with his supporters, Akinyelure, who had earlier announced his resignation from the PDP in June on the floor of the House, said he believes in the prosperity of Nigeria under the administration of President Bola Tinubu.

Akinyelure said, ”I am happy to return home. My foundation is progressive, and I am back in the fold from the PDP to add value to the APC.

“The mood of Ondo State, as clearly expressed in the last general election, is to particularly support Asiwaju Bola Tinubu as the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria by winning all 18 local government areas of Ondo State for APC for the first time ever.

This shows that Ondo State generally supports the Renewed Hope agenda of the President Bola  Tinubu.

“Therefore, my official decamping to APC today is to join the progressives to come and add value to the successful administration of Bola Tinubu, who has been my political leader and mentor since I started my political career in Lagos, Alimosho Local Government Area, and as the Chairman of LARIP (Lagos State Amenities Restoration and Improvement Project) when Asiwaju Bola  Tinubu was democratically elected as civilian Governor of Lagos State.

“As a progressive politician with track records of people’s welfare and empowerment, I cannot help but identify with a political platform that is poised to change Nigeria for the better under the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola  Tinubu.

“Therefore, my decision and that of all my political followers and stakeholders in Ondo Central and Ondo State in general, and particularly in Idanre LGA, is hinged on the need to engender good governance in Ondo State, put the state in the mainstream of national politics, foster regional integration, and add value to my people in all ramifications under the President Bola Ahmed Tinubu administration.