By Adeboye Ado
A former member of the House of Representatives for Akoko North East/Akoko North West Federal Constituency, Hon. Stephen Olemija, has returned back to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Ondo State.
Olemija, a former Chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC), dumped the ruling party and pledged his firm support for the PDP in a welcoming ceremony held on Saturday in Ikare Akoko, in the Akoko North East Local Government Area of the State.
The one time Reps member held sway under the platform of the PDP between 1999-2023, and later the dumped the party for APC.
At the crowded event with array of big wigs which encompasses —the National Publicity Secretary of the Party, Hon. Debo Ologunagba; a former Gubernatorial Candidate in the State, Mr. Eyitayo Jegede; Chairman Ondo PDP Presidential Campaign Council, Col. Roland Omowa, among other leaders; Olemija decamped along side Engr Steve Giwa, a former Chairman of Water Corporation.
Welcoming him back to his former abode, the Party State Chairman, Mr. Fatai Adams, said the defection of Olemija and his supporters was a totem that the party would defeat the APC with a huge margin during the general elections, adding that the development is a harbinger of better times to come.
He noted that the ruling party was on the brink of collapse, saying the avalanche of new entrants who joined the party at the event is a testament to the fact that APC failed to honored its campaign promises and, shouldn’t be voted for.
Corroborating the terse speech of the Chairman, Hon. Debo Ologunagba, hailed the decision of the former lawmaker, while he urged other members who left the party to return back so as to forge a united front that will prove to be a catalyst for needed change.
Describing Olemija as a politician with massive influence capable of winning Ikare for PDP, Ologunagba said “this event is very important to all PDP members, you know the pedigree of Hon. Olemija, you know he is a big fish, a grassroot politician and staunch member of the PDP. He is also a two time Local Government Chairman, so we are happy to have him back.
On the sideline of the event, the Ondo North Senatorial Candidate, Akogun Tokunbo, expressed optimism that the party would coast home to victory in the forthcoming election, noting that members of the party are not lymphatic as to engaging people to vote for all the candidates in the state.
However, Olemija, who berated the APC, described it as a party with no modicum of organization, maintaining that he did not rue his decision on joining the PDP.
“I thank leaders of the party for the warm reception, for complete three months, they came, asking me to join them. Subsequently, I acceded because my former party lacks adequate coordination. I didn’t regret leaving APC ”
