Former Commissioner for Health in Oyo State, Dr. Azeez Popoola Adeduntan on Tuesday announced his defection from the All Progressives Congress (APC) to the ruling party in the state, the People’s Democratic Party (PDP).
The cardiovascular surgeon made this known in a statement he made available to journalists in Ibadan, the state capital on Tuesday, stressing that his foray into politics was a child of circumstance, specifically driven, to serve and help in bringing good governance to Oyo State and Nigeria.
He however lamented how some people hijacked APC structures and relegated competence and justice to the background.
The statement partly reads:
“Other than my experience in Labour Party, where there was a free and fair PRIMARY in 2011, our subsequent experiences, with party primaries in 2015, 2019 and 2022 in PDP and APC by the same fraudulent “JAGBA“actors; were unmitigated disasters – characterized by fraud, electoral heist, corruption and ABUJA GODFATHERISM (funds and voters lists manipulation), especially the 2022 OYO APC PRIMARIES, where there were no primaries at all levels – worse at the GOVERNORSHIP and senatorial levels.
“Fraudulent ticket holders in APC are now prowling the streets and roads of OYO STATE,as legitimate candidates.
“A man that cannot stand for truth, equity, fairness and justice, will fall for anything.
“For OYO state indigenes and our youths especially, it is important to point out to them that the worst form of corruption is electoral fraud as it imposes unwanted candidates on the populace, who will never answer to the voters, but the fraudulent elements that implanted them into offices.
“Success obtained by fraud must not be LIONIZED by the youths in Oyo State as it’s being presently done, if this society must move forward.
“The Oyo state citizens and for that matter – the youths are hereby being put on notice.
“That for Oyo State to move forward – nay NIGERIA, we must shun fraud and electoral corruption.
“Our group, through our think thank had evaluated three major governorship candidates who we believe stand a chance of success as well as presidential candidates at the upcoming polls on February 25th and March 11th respectively.
“Since I have been excluded through fraud and electoral heist, for which we were and are ready anytime; for a civil action suit, either for slander or libel, by any APC ticket holder,who feels injured by our factual statements above, being a fact and material witness; either by originating summons or writ of summons; in any federal court, in the last nine months of the pseudo Oyo 2022 primaries.
“Of the three Oyo candidates, we have found Engr Seyi Makinde – the current governor – the best that can move Oyo State forward, using all key performance indicators.
“Similarly,we have found Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the best at the presidential contest.
“To forestall accusations of anti party activities, and my unwavering commitment for truth, justice, equity and fair play; and after full consultations with my supporters; throughout the 33 LGAs of Oyo State, I AZEEZ POPOOLA ADEDUNTAN – the OSI BASORUN OF IBADAN LAND, hereby
resign my membership of APC effective today, Tuesday February 21st and defecting to PDP to support my brother Engr. Seyi Makinde for a well deserved 2nd term and Bola Ahmed Tinubu, as the next president of Nigeria.
“I therefore direct all my supporters in Labour Party (2011 candidate),
PDP (2015 aspirant)
2019/2022 (APC aspirant)
to vote for both candidates.”