Former Ondo State Governor, Olusegun Mimiko, has formally joined the All Progressives Congress (APC), weeks after exiting the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
The ex-governor, who led Ondo State from 2009 to 2016, was received into the ruling party on Thursday at its Ward 7 secretariat in Ondo West Local Government Area.
Speaking after his defection, Mimiko said his decision was informed by his desire to support the policies and direction of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, noting that the administration was taking steps to move the country forward.
He said, “There are a lot of good things being done by the President Bola Ahmed Tinubu-led government, and though much more will still have to be done, I am coming in to lend my support to ongoing efforts to keep Nigeria on the path of peace, progress and genuine development.
“The NELFUND initiative to democratise access to education is another commendable effort of Mr President which must be applauded, and for an avowed supporter of state police like myself, the current effort to decentralise policing as being pursued is another reason I am happy to be part of the current effort under Mr President.”
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Welcoming him, the Ondo State APC chairman, Kolawole Babatunde, described the move as a return of a seasoned political figure to the progressive fold, citing his record in governance across key sectors.
“Former Governor Mimiko is a progressive through and through, and his coming into the APC is like a homecoming.
“President Tinubu’s every initiative and effort are progressive in nature and are yielding positive results that are endearing to other positive and progressive-minded Nigerians,” Babatunde stated.
Also reacting, former lawmaker representing Ondo East/West Federal Constituency, Joseph Akinlaja, said the development signalled the full consolidation of Mimiko’s political base within the APC.
“Before now, some of us had moved into the APC mostly with his consent, but now feel fully satisfied that he has finally joined us so that we can all contribute to the landslide electoral success of President Tinubu and all the party’s candidates in subsequent elections,” Akinlaja said.