After much deliberations which lasted for few months, and a closed door meeting, held in Ondo State, Olusegun Mimiko’s Zenith Labour Party (ZLP), has finally succumbed to the mounting pressures from the People’s Democratic Party, (PDP), to form an alliance.
This was stated in the issued communique, signed by Chief Joseph Akinlaja, the State Chairman of ZLP, after the ‘political deal’ has been sealed.
Mimiko, a former governor of Ondo State, said, his Labour Party, agreed to be a part of PDP, so as to, “rescue the country from the brink of insecurity.”
Mimiko added that, when his party’s stakeholders appraised developments across the nation, it was agreed that, the PDP, will be the most viable platform to work with in the forthcoming 2023 elections year.
He affirmed that, all members of the ZLP, who wish to be fully integrated into PDP, will be accorded full membership rights, in what according to him, promises to be a win for PDP members, as well as for Nigerians.
“After detailed deliberations by leaders across Local Government Areas, a motion moved for members of the ZLP in Ondo State to join the PDP, was put to vote, to which all present voted yes, by popular acclamation.”
Mimiko, alias Iroko, also believed that, with ZLP pitching its tent with PDP, the country will be rescued from APC misgovernment.
“It was resolved after deliberations that members of ZLP decided to pitch their tent with the Peoples Democratic Party, to rescue the country from the misrule of the APC, and to set her on a path of peace and progress for the benefit of all.”
Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers State, who is one of the delegates sent to woo the former Ondo State governor to PDP, said earlier,
“We are here because we know the importance of Iroko… Tell him to join us so that we can move the country forward.”
For the Chairman of PDP Governors Forum, Aminu Tambuwal, “we are here in Ondo town, the resident of our leader, Olusegun Mimiko, because, “it has become necessary to woo Mimiko into the PDP’s fold, towards building a new Nigeria.”
Four serving governors of PDP, which include: ‘Seyi Makinde of Oyo State, Nyesom Wike of Rivers State, Aminu Tambuwal of Sokoto State, Okezie Ikpeazu of Abia, as well as other political leaders of the party, were sent on the wooing mission to Mimiko’s Ondo home.
State Chairman of ZLP, Chief Akinlaja, however, reiterated that,
“The stakeholders after serious deliberations, unanimously agreed to rejoin the PDP; adding that, “members of the ZLP across the 18 local government areas in the state, decided to join PDP, after a thorough appraisal of the developments in the country.”