2018: Osun Labour Party, PDP To Merge As One Party
Ahead of 2018 governorship election in the state of Osun, the leadership of the Labour Party led by its governorship aspirant in 2014, Alhaji Fatai Akinbade, has said its ready to merge with Peoples Democratic Party to wrestle power from the ruling All Progressives Congress.
The merger which is gear towards 2018 governorship election has many analysts describing the move as that that may not sail through due to inordinate ambition in the PDP with Labour party members are also cutting for how they can benefit from the alliance.
The chairman caretaker committee of PDP, Alhaji Sarafadeen Ishola had met with Akinbade over the weekend to woo him and sought his forgiveness over the way he was treated by the party.
While speaking, Ishola said there was a need for those who had left the party to return if PDP would defeat APC in 2018 poll.
Ishola while addressing members of the LP and PDP members at the residence of Akinbade, said PDP had visited the former National Secretary of PDP, Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola to seek forgiveness disclosing that Oyinlola forgave the party for the injustice meted out on him.
According to Ishola, “we are here today to beg Oluomo (Akinbade). There is bound to be offences in politics. So, our brother, Alhaji Akinbade, forgive us and return to PDP. There has never been any party that ruled Nigeria for 16 years since independence in 1960. We need to reconcile our differences.
“Osun people are clamouring for transformation and 2018 is vital in Osun. The people are already asking for the exit of APC and we shouldn’t disappoint them. We shouldn’t disobey the people of Osun. We will still beg other people like SSG and commissioners.”
In his reaction, Akinbade said that himself and other aspirants and members of the LP had agreed to join PDP in defeating APC in the state.
The former Secretary to Osun state government said he dumped PDP in February, 2014 saying he was ready to return to the party alongside his numerous supporters.
While noting that LP would meet and issue a formal release on its defection said if the party had not supported late Adeleke’s younger brother during the Osun West by election, PDP may not have defeated APC.
Akinbade said, “PDP is the only solution to Osun challenges. Osun people will not be happy with us if we should misuse this opportunity of this election. To prevent the APC from rigging this governorship election, we need to decrease APC’s numerical strength.
It would be recalled that Akinbade alongside late Sen. Isiaka Adeleke were among those unjustly treated by the PDP governorship candidate, Senator Iyiola Omisore.
Aside the leaders forcefully ejected from the party owing to ambition of Omisore, many members were also unhappy as they believe that the same man is still preparing for the party’s ticket come 2018.
