The immediate past Deputy Governor of Kwara State, Chief Joel Ogundeji has broken his silence, saying his former boss never consulted him before defecting to the opposition All Progressives Congress (APC) with some of his supporters.   Speaking at a well attended PDP rally in Owu-Isin, headquarters of Isin local government area of the state, Ogundeji appealed to the people to continue supporting the party and President Goodluck Jonathan.

His words: “Senator Bukola Saraki never consulted me before he defected to APC. I did not know what PDP did to him that should warrant his destruction of the party.

“I cannot follow Bukola to APC because PDP has not offended me. I am solidly in PDP and I will work for its success at the polls”.

The former Deputy Governor who maintained that elders of the party were fighting for the future of the State added that the youths were the leaders of tomorrow.

He advised the youths in the party not to engage in any rancour with opposition, “but you should remain focused on how to win back their votes.”

Also speaking, Senator Simeon Ajibola who represents Kwara South in the National Assembly declared that the PDP would retrieve what he described as “its stolen mandates” by the APC.

Ajibola assured the people of the senatorial district not to lose hope “because of those that defected from the party to APC in that PDP would laugh last.”

According to him, “the case was already in court and the leadership of PDP would fight the case to its logical end. The people of the state voted for all the PDP councillors, 16 local government chairmen, 22 House of Assembly members, six House of Representatives members, three senators and one Governor”.

He told the gathering that the law was very clear on defection, stressing that anybody elected on the platform of a particular political party and defected to another party automatically loses his seat.

“Before the end of the year, the court would declare all seats occupied by the defectors to APC vacant and would be reclaimed by PDP. I am appealing to all PDP members to remain steadfast and be prepared to fight the battle through their votes,” he stated.

In his remarks, a youth leader, Mr. Michael Awolusi, appealed to leadership of the party not to allow position to tear them apart.

He, however, implored them not to give room for any faction within the party, adding that jostling for positions usually led to factions.

Awolusi pledged the commitments of youths in the party to continue working for the progress of the party particularly towards the 2015 general elections.