Anti-Party: Olododo, supporters may join PDP

*He’s welcome – Kwara PDP

*I’m not aware – APC Chair

A former Secretary to the Kwara State Government (SSG), Alhaji AbudulGaniyu Cook Olododo and his loyalists may have concluded plans to dump the All Progressives Congress (APC) for the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), National Pilot has gathered.

The embattled former SSG was among the about 30 APC members suspended by the party for allegedly engaging in anti-party activities.

He was among other offences, accused by the APC of working for the failed bid of former President Goodluck Jonathan during the presidential election held in March.

While other prominent suspended members have been making overtures for possible reduction or outright cancellation of punitive measures meted out by the APC to them, Olododo, this medium gathered, has stood his ground and has since distanced himself from the party activities in the state.

According to one of his close aides, who confided in this medium on the matter, Olododo is likely to officially “declare for the PDP any moment from now”.

The source further added that the embattled APC chieftain has concluded all necessary modalities towards making his entry into the PDP a success, adding that he has the full backing of his supporters and some PDP chieftains.

Though it could not be ascertain by this medium as at the time of filling this report, whether Olododo has met with the leadership of the PDP in the state, it was however gathered that the former SSG has, and still maintains close contacts with some PDP chieftains at the national level.

National Pilot further learnt that after the one year suspension order placed on him by the APC, Olododo reportedly summoned a meeting with his supporters where they appraised the situation and possible solutions.

“At the meeting, Olododo told the supporters about happenings in the state clearly shows that the APC does not want them anymore. He promised to intimate them of the next line of action as soon as possible”, another source added.

Another aide, who also confirmed the issue, said the matter is still being negotiated, adding that discussion regarding the purported defection has reached an advance stage.

“Olododo has concluded arrangement to decamp to the PDP with his teeming supporters. We are still negotiating but arrangement has reached advanced stage and its expected to be concluded in a couple of weeks. I can tell that very soon, we will be members of the PDP.

“We have been in discussion with the PDP leadership since and we are on the same page with the aim of eventually freeing Kwara.

“The APC leadership has shown that we are not wanted in its fold, they sidelined our leader even before the elections and the straw that broke the camel's back is the suspension, where we were not given fair hearing.

“We felt we will be treated fairly by the APC but the tenets of democracy were jettisoned. They suspended our leader and some of our supporters without fair trial, we are taking our political future in our own hands,” the source added.

Meanwhile, a top candidate of PDP in the last general election from Ilorin East confirmed to this medium that Olododo is making moves to join the PDP fold.

He, however, added that it is too early to give a specific date as to when he'll eventually officially declare for the party.

The source said: “I met with him and we discussed about the possibility of working together on the same platform. Our relationship actually started shortly before the general elections. We are however expecting him to join our fold and solidify our relationship.

“He has also contacted some of our party leaders and discussion is ongoing. It is however too early to give a specific date as to his defection. But I can assure you we share the same ideology and we have agreed to work together going forward”.

Reacting to the issue, the Chairman of the Kwara State chapter of the APC, Hon Ishola Balogun-Fulani denied knowledge of the development, adding that he is not aware of such move.

“I am not aware of anything of such”, the chairman submitted.

Attempts to also get the chairman of the PDP in the state, Iyiola Oyedepo, to comment on the incident was not successful as attempts to reach him through his mobile phone proved abortive. He also did not reply text message sent to him while filling the story.

However, the Assistant Publicity Secretary of the PDP in the state, Mr Femi Yusuf, neither confirmed nor denied the incident but said the party is open to all interested persons.

“Though I cannot confirm to you whether or not he is meeting the leadership of the party, but as a political party, we will welcome anybody to our fold. Anybody willing to join the PDP is welcome onboard”.

All attempts to speak with Olododo on the issue proved abortive yesterday, as he frustrated our reporter by picking and hanging his phone after being briefed on the line of questioning.

Also, text messages sent to his mobile phone was not replied as at the time of going to press.

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