Date: 2015-04-09

The Kwara State chairman of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Chief Iyiola Oyedepo has said the defection of its key members to the All Progressives Congress (APC) would not blight the chance of the party in Saturday's governorship election.

Daily Trust reports that the party's membership was massively depleted on Wednesday following the defection of key members of the state working committee and other chieftains of the party.

Those that defected included the Secretary, Razaq Hassan; Youth Leader, Segun Olawoyin; Women Leader, Nimota Ibrahim; former Speaker of the House, Hon. Benjamin Ezekiel, among others who are loyalists of Senator Gbemisola Saraki.

They said their defection had practically emptied the state PDP.

Saraki, a former gubernatorial aspirant of the party, dumped the PDP on the eve of the presidential elections and formally announced her defection to the APC on Tuesday. However, the state PDP chairman who spoke with Daily Trust in Ilorin, said notwithstanding the defection, the PDP candidate, Senator Simeon Sule Ajibola and those of the House of Assembly would emerge victorious in Saturday's election. According to him, those who defected were never committed to the party hence their absence would not be felt.

"When Gbemi was with us, she didn't work for us. When the Secretary was with us, he didn't work for us. When the youth leader was with us, he didn't work for us. When the women leader was with us, she didn’t work for us. So it is even better that they have gone. So it is a good development that they have left", he said.

Meanwhile, Sen. Gbemi Saraki, in reaction to the defection of her loyalists has assured her supporters that the storm was over for them.

In a terse statement made available to our correspondent, Sen. Saraki thanked the leadership of the APC in Kwara led by Sen. Bukola Saraki and the Executive Governor of Kwara State, Alhaji Abdulfatah Ahmed for welcoming her and her associates into the party.

She assured the party leadership of her commitment and dedication to the ideals of the party at all times.

"I commend members of the GRS Movement for standing up in solidarity at this critical time. I assure them that the storm is over. With the APC, we are assured of justice, equity and fair play".