Dimeji Bankole loyalists set to defect this week

Abiodun Onafuye/Abeokuta

There are indication Monday morning that over 100,000 members of the coalition group, loyalists to former Speaker of the Federal House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Dimeji Bankole may join the Unity Party of Nigeria, UPN before the end of this week.

Our correspondent reliably gathered from a close ally of the former number citizen that several meetings have been ongoing between the group and the leadership of the UPN in the State.

Also, there are strong indications that eight members of the ten Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, at the Ogun State House of Assembly may be on their way out of the party to join the new party.

It would be recalled that following the failure of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Ogun to pick the former Speaker as its governorship flag bearer in the next year’s election, things have fallen apart.

Bankole and eight other aspirants boycotted the 8 December governorship primary election of the PDP in the State.

The Ogun PDP primary declared as illegal by the party’s National Publicity Secretary, Olisa Metuh was eventually won by a Yewa son and former governorship candidate of PPN in the 2011 election, Prince Gboyega Nasir Isiaka, popularly called GNI.

Isiaka was confirmed as the Ogun PDP governorship candidate with the submission of his name by the national leadership of the party to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

Speaking to PM News via telephone, one of Bankole’s lieutenants, who preferred anonymity confirmed that the coalition of groups who have been supporting the governorship ambition of the former Speaker might dump PDP pretty soon.

The source disclosed that the groups were currently aggrieved over the alleged nonchalant disposition of the PDP national leadership to issues bordering on party discipline, expressing disappointment in the leadership of the party over their alleged failure to enforce its directive that the 8 December governorship primary election should not hold.

The groups observed that while some aspirants and delegates complied with the directive of the National Working Committee (NWC) on the matter, it was unfortunate that the national leadership of the party now appeared to be giving preference to the aspirants that violated its directive in the list of candidates submitted to INEC.

“Yes, we are moving and it will happen soon. We cannot continue to stay with those that can’t speak with a voice. The last time I spoke with you, I told you, we felt that the leadership of PDP in Abuja will stand by their decision, but it is unfortunate that some money bags politicians would have influenced them to change their minds.

“I want to confirm to you that we have been meeting with the leadership of Unity Party of Nigeria, UPN in the state and before the end of this year we will make a decision. Consultations are ongoing as regards the failure of the party in the state to give Bankole the party governorship ticket.

“About whether Dimeji Bankole is going with us or not, let us leave that for now until then, but I want to assure you that over 100,000 members in our coalition groups which spread across the state know that something better will come out for them at the end of the day. Let’s just wait and see as the UPN slogan says, shine your eyes,” the source revealed.

When our correspondent contacted one of the media aides to the governorship candidate of the Unity Party of Nigeria, UPN in Ogun State, Prince Olatunde Paseda, she confirmed the consultation but declined to speak further on when the formal declaration will happen.

“They have been meeting with us and all is in the interest of salvaging this state from the hand of the present government. I can’t be divulging our plans and arrangement, but I can confirm to you that our great party, the Unity Party of Nigeria, UPN, the party of the real progressives, the party of our late sage, Chief Obafemi Awolowo will spring surprises during next year’s elections in Ogun State,” the media aides who didn’t want her name in print disclosed.