Ondo PDP to sanction members who defect

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Ondo State on Monday said the party would sanction all its members who defected to the ruling Labour Party.

The party in a statement issued by its Publicity Director, Yemi Adedipe said the state executive of the party had resolved to expunge the names of the defectors from the party list as a deterrent to others who are planning to dump the party.

The PDP camp in Ondo State had witnessed a major setback in the last few months, as some bigwigs of the party decamped openly to the ruling Labour Party along with their supporters.

Some of the decampees include the former Commissioner for Women Affairs, Margaret Akinsuroju; a Commissioner in the Civil Service Commission and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Woman Leader, Aduke Olugboja; and the former Chairman of the Ondo State Waste Management Board, Bailey Arounmolase.

The PDP official said the party is dismayed that the defectors, who benefited immensely from the immediate past administration in the state, would opt to leave their party less than one year out of office.

“We are ready to sanitise the party to prevent further decamping of our members, we are presently reconciling aggrieved members of the party to make PDP a party to beat in the 2011 general elections,” Mr Adedipe said.

Lilliputians in politics

The Party also dispelled the notion that the defection of its members would affect the chances of the party in the 2011 general elections in the country.

“Those who decamp from our party are Lilliputians in politics; they are a bunch of politicians who are after money and position. I want to assure you that the defection will not have any effect on the party,” he said.

The PDP was the dominant party in Ondo State until last year when it lost the governorship seat - and its ability to offer patronage - to the Labour Party candidate, Segun Mimiko.