THE chances of Labour Party (LP) in Osun State winning the August 9 governorship election brightened yesterday as many All Progressives Congress (APC) and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) members in Irepodun and Irewole local councils of the state joined the party.
Alhaji Fatai Akinbade, the LP governorship candidate in the race while welcoming the new members to the party said in a statement by his Director of Media, Mr. Kayode Oladeji, that the influx of other party members to the LP was a sign that the party would win the polls.
While Salau Nureni, popularly known as Agbada and Ameen Yunusa led over 250 APC members in Irepodun local council, the PDP youth leader, Mustapha Wasiu (Oponeh) from Ward 6 of the council led 300 members from the PDP to join the LP.
Similarly in Irewole Local Council, notable members of APC and PDP, including Alhaji Sule Aresa, Chief
Akinrole, Ademola Akinola, Kazeem Akinola and Wale Akindele led over a thousand members to the Labour Party.
The members who were received separately in Ilobu and Ikire, the headquarters of Irepodun and Irewole councils respectively, said they dumped their former parties due to alleged insincerity of their leaders.
Oladeji said the LP was able to attract members from other parties due to the popularity of the party’s candidate who is also noted to be a grassroots mobilizer.
The new members said Akinbade’s conduct while in public office and his humility were part of the factors which endeared them to joining the party.
“We can say with a measure of certainty that none of the contenders can withstand the candidature of Alhaji Fatai Akinbade in terms of everything that has to do with good governance. He has the pedigree and that is why we have decided to join forces with him to rescue the state and its people from its present shackles,” they said.
Welcoming them, the former secretary to the state government assured that he would not betray the trust the people reposed in him, urging them to be steadfast in ensuring the victory of the party at the polls.
Akinbade also appealed to them to be law-abiding, adding that, “we shall win the August 9, 2014, election by the grace of God. Nothing will stop us because we have God and enjoy the support of the masses in our dear state.”
