Oyo Acting Governor Welcomes Defectors To PDP

The Acting Governor of Oyo State, Adebayo Lawal, has welcomed a former Zonal Chairman of African Action Congress (AAC), Segun Damilola Bejo and his followers to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

Lawal officially welcomed Damilola Bejo to the party on Monday at his office in Ibadan. 

During the official defection ceremony at Ogbomoso on Friday, Olaniyan Bejo who decamped with over 500 members to the PDP described the defection as a homecoming.

"We have been here before we left for the AAC. We are back now to take over our party. Today, Acting Governor Bayo Lawal is my leader and foremost light. 

"We would assiduously work for the emergence of the party come 2023 general elections from the local government to House of Assembly, Federal House of Representatives, Governorship, Senatorial District and Presidency.

"We understand that politics is grassroots and we will do the grassroots mobilization and workings for the party towards victory. 

"We the former AAC members are defecting to the Peoples Democratic Party.

"I happened to be the Zonal Chairman of the party in Ogbomoso.

"For me, this is homecoming and to some of our people who are still out there they should come back, I call them 'wandering patriots'.

"In 2019 I had aspired for Ogbomoso North House of Assembly in this party which is the PDP, but due to the party's interest I stopped down due to consultations from our leader. 

"And now we are back to the party, to work for the progress of the party and in order for us to excel especially in Ogbomoso Zone which is our territory.

"I'm very sure and assured that with our people here we will work and achieve victory. 

"We will showcase what we have for the party, not only in Ogbomoso Zone but Oyo State and Nigeria by the grace of God," Damilola Bejo said. 

Also speaking, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) chairman in Ogbomoso North Local Government Area, George Ogunlade, described Olaniyan Damilola Bejo as an essential grassroot politician. 

"In 2019, he contested for Ogbomoso North House of Assembly.

"He worked hard. But because we didn't want to be 'winners take all', that's what affected him.

"They were two House of Assembly then, Damilola Bejo and one other; and they defected to different parties but the other candidate later came back.

"We didn't hear from Damilola since then.

"He was here in the party in 2014/15. He was here building with us.

"He built the new PDP with us. As young as he is, he is a political phenomenon. 

"Like a month ago now he came back. We discussed everything.

"He's being wanted by the APC, injured-horse party and the sore-thumb party. 

"His father was a political mathematician. That's what we called him.

"He could predict election. Whenever he said this is how election would be, so it would be.

"His father trained us in politics. We thank God that he (Bejo Damilola) is back," Ogunlade said.