My Defection Marks A Total Collapse of PDP Structures Into APC—Yagba West PDP Chairman, Omoye
By Ralph Agbana
The ranks of the main opposition People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in Kogi State have been further depleted as Chairman of the party in Yagba West Local Government Area, Hon Omoniyi Adeyemi popularly known as “Omoye”, has defected to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
Omoye was officially received into the ruling party on Saturday, June 28th in his basic constituency, Ward 002 Odo-Egbe, Yagba West Local Council.
Until his defection, Omoye held the following political offices—all under the PDP: Councillor, Ward 002 Odo-Egbe; Liason Officer (LO) 2, Yagba West Council; Vice-chairman, Yagba West Council and Acting Chairman, Yagba West Council.
He also served in the various capacities as Ward, State and National Delegate, as well as at the various levels of PDP caucuses and committees from Ward to State level. He was runner-up in the PDP House of Assembly primary election, Yagba West State Constituency, in the run-up to the 2011 elections.
A committed partyman, grassroots mobilizer and financier who deployed his personal resources to sustain PDP in his catchment, this is the first time Omoye has changed party affiliation since the formation of the PDP in 1998.
Owing to his long years of loyalty and affinity with the frontline political leadership of Yagba, commitment to service, honesty, humility and politics of engagement, Omoye worked his way into the good books of prominent leaders likes Asiwaju Jide Omokore, Asiwaju of Odo-Eriland, Chief Funsho Owoyemi, Otunba Sam Olu Owa, Arc Yomi Awoniyi, Senator Sunday Karimi, Chief Folorunsho Daniyan, Hon Sam Aro, Alhaji Ganiyu Salaudeen, among others.
For these attributes and records of contributions to electoral successes of the then ruling PDP, Omoye’s defection to the ruling party is significant in many aspects; widely seen as one more than just another ordinary addition to the APC family.
Addressing the gathering of supporters and APC stalwarts drawn from across the 14 electoral wards in Yagba West during the defection rally held on the Okoa Open Field, Ward 002 Odo-Egbe, Omoye, unarguably one of the last vestiges of the main opposition party in Kogi State, declared that his exit “marked the total collapse of PDP structure into the ruling party in Yagba West”.
He expressed deep appreciation to Senator Sunday Karimi, whom he called “my boss”, and his wife Mrs Stella Maris Karimi for their roles in his political trajectory culminating in his decampment to APC.
He praised Engr Faramade Oniya for his invaluable support, describing him as a successful leader material, having the potential to guide, motivate and inspire others, despite his low profile.
Omoye also showered praises (and appreciation) on former Senatorial Aspirant in Kogi West, Christopher Oni Faramebi, House of Assembly member and Minority Leader, Kogi State House of Assembly, Hon Ibikunle Idowu, Commissioner for Environment, Engr Segun Joseph, Special Adviser to the Governor on Urban Development, Chief Kayode Olutayo John, Agbana of Opada, Chief Sunday Aremu, Hon Femi Dele a k.a Obantu, Hon Gbenga Ogungbemi “Spark”, among others, too numerous to mention, for their individual roles exerted to ensure his smooth entry into the APC family.
*’Why I left PDP’*
Hon Omoniyi Adeyemi attributed his decision to quit his political party of over two decades to lack of a sense of future.
“PDP lacks a single future. Anywhere you find yourself and there is no future, you must leave immediately”, he said.
To butress his point, he noted that for a politician of his status and experience, the overbearing influence of the Minister of Federal Capital Territory, Nyesome Wike on PDP had eroded any hopes for the continue relevance and overall success of the PDP in future elections in Nigeria. Similarly, he pointed to what he described as a total lack of functional leadership and direction in the Kogi State chapter of the PDP.
“It is so glaring that PDP is on the verge of extinction. Most of my political associates and close allies have all left the PDP for the APC since the runup to the 2019 election. But it was not my intention to leave until recently when I no longer see any glimpse of hope to warrant my continued stay in the PDP. At the recent PDP National Cconvention in Jos, I called a meeting of some of the delagates from Okunland and I asked them two questions: One, who is funding PDP at the national level and, two, who is directing the affairs of PDP in Kogi State? The answer to the first question is Wike. This is a PDP leader who has openly vowed to ensure the reelection of President Bola Tinubu in 2027. The answer to the second question is “NOBODY”, meaning there’s is no centralised leader direct the affairs of PDP in Kogi State. That is enough to tell you that PDP is dead. At least i can speak based on Yagba because all the three PDP chairmen in Yagba, we work together”.
He attributed the beginning of the problem of Kogi PDP to the mismanagement of the 2023 governorship primaries by the eventual governorship candidate, Senator Dino Melaye. He noted that while his name and other duly elected state delegates were removed, the congress that was used for the primary election had been manipulated in such a way that in several wards the state delegates were unknown to the party in the wards.
This was what drove many PDP stalwarts out of that party to the APC including leading political figures like former Deputy Governor Arc Yomi Awoniyi. The few that chose to stay in the PDP, only few genuinely worked for the party during the election. Some were simply indifferent while some silently worked against the party from the inside.
“I was one of those that genuinely worked for the PDP despite the disappointments”, he said.
However, citing PDP’s dwindling fortunes, the throes of defections occasioned by the lingering internal crisis and court cases, he expressed doubts that the party could successfully field candidates and prosecute future elections without risking legal consequences.
“At that point, I said enough is enough!”
*’Why I Joined APC’*
“The performance of Governor Usman Ododo across the state particularly in my local government Yagba West in less than 2 years in office and his popularity is enough to convince the most ardent opposition that no other party can withstand APC in Kogi State. Likewise the Senator representing Kogi West, my leader Senator Sunday Karimi has done tremendously well too. His achievements is everywhere for all to see. Since the reason we are in politics is for development, these leaders have made APC to become so attractive that I could no longer ignore the pressure, here and there to reunite with my friends and associates who have long left me in the PDP and have made several appeals to me to join APC”.
Omoye praised Governor Usman Ododo’s exemplary leadership, highlighting his achievements such as timely payment of salaries, ensuring civil servants’ welfare, Infrastructure development initiatives, transforming Kogi State’s landscape, people-centered policies, empowering citizens and promoting inclusive growth.
“I can not see light and choose to remain in darkness. I have no regrets whatsoever for my decision to join APC”, he said.
*’Welcome Home, Omoye’*
Okoa/Otun Ward is one of the largest and prominent electoral wards in Okunland and home to important political and revered personalities. There we have the likes of pioneer Chairman of the PDP in Kogi State, Dr Kayode Ige and ex-Managing Director, Kwara Paper Converter Limited and Retired Permanent Secretary in the Kogi State Civil Service, Engr Bayo Awarun quietly playing advisory roles. Okua also boasts successful merchant and respected community leader, Aare of Egbeland and Bashorun of Shashaland, Lagos, Chief Adekunle Oniya, and former Kogi State Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Barrister (Mrs) Justina Abanida, among other non-politically exposed personalities.
Okoa alone once produced two House of Representatives candidates for the defunct National Republic Convention (NRC) and the Social Democratic Party (SDP) in Dr Kayode Ige and Mrs Justina Abanida during the aborted Third Republic.
The reception held at Okoa
Open Field for Omoye starting from 4 pm on Saturday was cordial. The message— “welcome home, Omoye” rang from every spire and steeple. The various APC stakeholders took turns to eulogize and welcome the man they described as a “Big Fish”. This is even as, occasionally, the speeches were laced with emotions. It was on that field that many political aspirations had been fulfilled and dashed. On that same ground, brothers have openly faced off and family links broken as a result of bitter political rivalry and brawls between opposing tendencies. There couldn’t have been a better venue to stage Omoye’s defection party where you witnessed hitherto disagreeable political elements come together and jollied, for the first time in many years.
The one who made it happen can only be someone whose years of strong presence in that ward with tentacles spread across the Town and Area Council, hitherto on the other side of the coin with the ruling party.
“Omoye’s defection to APC (no doubts) marks a significant milestone in Yagba West’s political landscape, bolstering APC’s presence and reinforcing the party’s commitment to progress and development”, declared one APC chieftain on Saturday.
Omoye was received by the APC Executive Committee of Ward 002 and APC Executive Committee of Yagba West Local Government; Special Adviser to the Governor, Chief Kayode Olutayo John; members of the Local Government Council— Executive and Legislative; Supervisory Councillors, other local government appointees and party stalwarts.
In his contributions, Kogi State House of Assembly member Hon Simon Ibikunle Idowu popularly known as “Kuli”, said although he was elected on the platform of the opposition African Democratic Congress (ADC), politically speaking, his body and soul belong to the APC. He praised Omoye for joining the APC, saying he will never regret his action.
The lawmaker emphasized that he is a thoroughbred APC faithful in ADC garment. To Omoye, he said: “Today you have chosen the right path and i assure you that you will never regret it. APC in Kogi State has been made more attractive because Governor Ododo is working; look at the roads he built in Egbe and the infrastructure everywhere across the state. Civil servants and pensioners are happy. His Excellency former Governor Yahaya Bello who brought the Chief Servant is an enigmatic leader. You’re welcome home. APC is my home, i only strayed into ADC”.
