By Hameed Oyegbade – Daily Trust
The Labour Party in Osun State (LP) has resolved to merge with the People’s Democratic Party (PDP).
This is as the PDP begged the LP former governorship candidate, Alhaji Fatai Akinbade to sheath sword and return to PDP.
The Osun PDP caretaker Committee on Tuesday met Akinbade at his residence and sought forgiveness over the disagreement that led to his defection to LP during the last governorship election in the state.
The Chairman of the 39-member Osun PDP caretaker Committee, Alhaji Sarafa Ishola while speaking during the meeting attended by LP members said PDP needs Akinbade and his supporters to be able to win the next year governorship election in the state.
“We have come to beg Alhaji Fatai Akinbade and seek forgiveness on whatever that PDP did to him that made him to dump our party then.
“We have come to usher him back to PDP which is his original party where he was a foundation member.”
In his response, Akinbade said his defection to LP was based on principle and that it was as a result of the crisis in the PDP then.
He noted that he has accepted the apology of PDP and ready to return to the party after necessary formalities and consultation with his supporters and stakeholders.
According to him, “We left PDP when we could no longer tolerate the injustice and cheating. We moved to Labour Party despite that we built PDP together.
“PDP will win the next year governorship election in Osun State if we come together and work together. We are ready to return to PDP now that you come to beg us. ”
Akinbade was the pioneer Chairman of PDP in Osun State and the party won governorship election in the state in 2003 under his leadership.
He was the Secretary to Osun State Government for about 7 years. He defected to LP during the 2014 governorship election in the state.
Chief Noah Oderinu, LP chieftain in Osun state who spoke on behalf of the LP in Osun State said members of LP have forgiven PDP since Akinbade has accepted the apology and that they would return to the PDP with him.