Defection: Mimiko’s associates jumped into APC sinking ship — Edema

Olugbenga Edema, the gubernatorial candidate of the New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP) in the November 16 election in Ondo State, has scolded the 29 associates of former Governor Olusegun Mimiko, who defected to the All Progressives Congress (APC).

Edema, while described their defection as “jumping into a sinking ship of APC,” said they exhibited a high degree of ignorance about the status of the APC in Ondo State.

On Wednesday, 29 political associates of the former governor formally joined the APC after dumping the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in meeting with Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa.

Thefrontrank reports that Mimiko decamped from Alliance for Democracy(AD) to PDP in 2003; and in 2007, the “Iroko; Gbasibe” exponent decamped to Labour Party(LP) to contest the governorship election.

Still on his political nomadism, Mimiko in 2014, returned to PDP, and in 2018 defected to Zenith Labour Party(ZLP), while in October 2021, the former governor returned to PDP for the third time.

Edema, in a statement on Thursday, emphasised that if the serial defectors had done the due diligence, they would known that by virtue of the INEC report issued following the April 20, 2024 primary, and by the clear provisions of the Electoral Act, 2022, the APC does not have a legitimate candidate for the November election in Ondo State.

According to him, the primary election that produced Aiyedatiwa as the APC candidate did not follow due process, as disclosed by the Independent National Electoral Commission.

Edema said: “They would also have known that the people of Ondo State have rejected the party, and this regime judging from public opinions. The outcome of the #EndBadGovernance and end hunger protest is a clear manifestation of this fact, which is obvious even to the blind.

“The Almighty God himself has rejected this regime and has torn the Aiyedatiwa’s government. God does not support an unrighteous government.

“In spite of the humongous amount of money from the Federation account entering the coffers of the state since June 2023, no tangible and visible development can be attributed to this regime.

“Ayedatiwa’s government has simply weaponised the state resources by deliberately pauperising the Ondo State people. It is waiting for the day of the election to begin to give handouts to the electorates. They have failed because the people of Ondo State are now wiser.

“The defection of Mimiko’s associates to the APC is akin to jumping into a sinking Titanic ship. It is quite unfortunate that these individuals have chosen to align themselves with a sinking ship.

“By the provisions of the Electoral Act of 2022, it is clear that the APC does not have a valid candidate in Ondo State. The primary election that led to the emergence of Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa as the APC candidate was marred by irregularities and did not adhere to due process as confirmed by INEC.

“The Electoral Act clearly outlines the procedures for conducting primaries, and it is evident that the process that led to Aiyedatiwa’s emergence was flawed. As such, his candidature is illegitimate. The facts speak for themselves, and it is clear that the APC has failed to adhere to the established rules.”

Edema disclosed that the Electoral Act was sufficient to establish the illegality of the process, making it unnecessary for a court of law to say so.

He assured electorate in the state that NNPP would emerge victorious in the November 16 election.