Former Oyo state governor Mr. Adebayo Alao-Akala has opened up on why he dumped the Labour Party in December 2015 to the All Progressives Congress (APC). In a recent interview with Nigerian Tribune, when asked why he joined the ruling party, Alao-Akala said, As of the time that I joined the Labour Party, I should have become a member of the APC. But, at that time, all the vacancies for elective positions had been filled and I would not have been able to pursue my gubernatorial ambition on that platform. Also, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) did not exist at that time.
“And, not long after I contested the last election, I left the Labour Party for APC. About 85 per cent of my political associates throughout the nation are members of the APC, and so I had to join the party. I did not join the APC because I seek any position. As regards members of the House of Assembly who emerged on the LP platform, we must note that they form the government of the Assembly. Also, they have to abide by certain principles guiding defection and the have to be very careful. Even if they are not there with me in body, they are with me in spirit.”
Was there an agreement with Alao-Akala and the incumbent Governor Abiola Ajimobi before he joined APC? Alao-Akala said, “I don’t have any agreement with him and I did not make any request. We are both politicians and he has been doing what he thinks is good for me. One does not have to give conditions before joining any party. One must first be convinced of one’s decision. I was convinced about my decision and that was why I joined the APC. The task before us as members of the party is to make the APC in Oyo State very strong.
“As far as I am concerned, I am an APC member. I do not need to put up any jamboree for people to know that I am a member of the APC. What is pertinent is for me to be faithful to the party that I belong to. I do not need any formal declaration for people to know that I am now a member of the APC. I have joined the party from my ward level and my followers have joined the APC from their respective wards level.”
