Ladoja’s Loyalists Dump PDP For APC
Members of the Oyo State chapter of the Zenith Labour Party (ZLP) loyal to Senator Rashidi Ladoja has dumped the party’s alliance with the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and dissolved into the state chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC).
The decision of the loyalists of Ladoja, a former governor of the state, was contained in a communique issued at the end of the stakeholders’ meeting of the ZLP and the Ladoja Political Group, held in Ibadan, on Tuesday.
ZLP was part of the political coalition that joined forces with the PDP in the build up to the 2019 governorship election in which the APC was eventually defeated.
The communique recalled that the leadership of Oyo APC, ZLP and Senator Rashidi Adewolu Ladoja Political Group met on Friday 12 February 2021 at Premier Hotel Ibadan to consider developmental issues affecting the state.
It further stated that one of the issues is the dissolution of the entire structure of ZLP and Ladoja Political Group in Oyo State into the APC.
Following the resolution taken at the meeting, all members of the two groups were directed to participate in the ongoing membership registration exercise of the APC throughout the state.
The decision taken to join the Oyo APC, it was further stated, also took into cognizance the assurance that members of the two groups would enjoy the same rights, privileges and benefits accruing to existing APC members.
The communique read: “It was agreed at that inaugural meeting that there was an urgent need to unite in order to save our dear state from economic collapse occasioned by insecurity, excessive borrowing and poor vision of Oyo State government.
“At our meeting held today, 2 March, 2021 at its Samonda office, the negotiating committee reported to the house and after an exhaustive deliberations agreed as follows:
“The entire existing structure of the ZLP and Ladoja Political Group in Oyo State immediately dissolve into the APC;
“All members of ZLP and Ladoja Political Group are hereby directed to partake in the ongoing membership registration exercise of the APC throughout the 351 wards of the 33 local government areas of Oyo State;
“All ZLP members and Ladoja Political Group joining the APC have been asssured that they will enjoy the same rights, privileges and benefits accruing to existing APC members;
“Directs all ZLP members and Ladoja Political Group to henceforth terminate all ward, local government or exco meetings and immediately start attending APC meetings at their respective wards and local government areas;
“The attention of all members is directed to the decision of the National Executive Committee of the APC which granted waivers to all new members or those desirous of joining APC;
“By the said APC NEC resolution of 8 December, 2020 all members, whether new or existing, shall immediately be entitled and qualified to contest for party and elective positions within APC without the need for a qualification period;
“The meeting passed a vote of confidence in our reverred leader, High Chief Senator Rashidi Adewolu Ladoja and other leaders and the executive steering the affairs of the ZLP, Ladoja Political Group and Ladoja loyalists;
“Henceforth, the APC and ZLP media teams should adopt a common criticism agenda.”
Signatories to the communique on behalf of the ZLP and the Ladoja Political Group include Elder Kola Olaniyan, Honourable Bimbo Adepoju, Barrister Sarafadeen Abiodun Alli and Mr. Waheed Akanbi (WAF).
Others are Rt. Hon. Adeolu Adeleke, Engineer Kazeem Kolawole Raji (KK), Engineer A I M Olaniyan, Mrs Monisola Tegbe, Mrs Serifat Tanimowo, Honourable Kola Olabiyi and Alhaji Wahab Oyelade.
