With the Kogi state gubernatorial elections barely a month away, a renowned stalwart of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ankpa Local Government Area, Yahaya Ododo, has dumped the party and joined the Action Alliance, (AA).
Ododo who made his decision known in a statement in Lokoja the state capital on Monday, explained that his move resulted from “the need to enshrine equity, fairness and justice in the Governorship chronicles of the state.”
- The retired military officer said the present administration in Kogi State got to Lugard House by accident, pointing out that it is the time of Kogi-West to produce the next governor of the State.
According to him, among all the governorship candidates, only Otunba Braimoh has a rich manifesto that can lift the state out of poverty that has ravaged it for years.
Part of the statement reads: “I have been in the politics of Kogi State for long, I have worked for the former Minister for Justice and Attorney General of the Federation, Chief Bayo Ojo, former Deputy Chief of Staff to the President, Chief Olushola Akanmode and we are ready to work for you.
“The party has continued to receive decampees from various Parties including a Stalwart of PDP in Ojoku Ward, Hon. Samuel Omale, and his teaming supporters.
Also, some members of the All Progressives Congress defected to AA, saying they were committed to realizing the wealth creation program of the governorship Candidate”. He said.
Similarly, a former PDP stalwart in Ojoku ward, Mr Samuel Omale, who recently joined AA tasked the new members to go to the nooks and crannies of the local government to canvas support for Otunba Olayinka Braimoh and his running mate, Alhaji Yahaya Tijani Imam.
Braimoh, in his response, told the new party members, as well as his supporters at the defection ceremony that he is on an assignment to raise Kogi State and its people from poverty, with his STAT Agenda which includes; Solid Minerals Development, Trade, Agriculture, Trade and Tourism.
Furthermore, he added that his Agenda for the state will bring food to the table of all in the state, noting that Kogi state is not supposed to be poor with abundant human and natural resources.
Also, he called for more support from the Ankpa electorate in his bid to rescue the state from poverty.