Salmot Badru , a former deputy to ex -Governor Gbenga Daniel of Ogun ( 2007 -2011 ) , on Tuesday led over 1 ,000 supporters into the All Progressives Congress in the state .
Badru , who was a deputy governor in the state on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party, declared for APC with followers who were members of Otunba Gbenga Daniel ’ s political family.
Our Correspondent gathered that Badru , a former chairperson of Ogun /Osun River Basin; Chief Iyabo Apampa and over 1,000 supporters were received by the factional chairman of the party, Chief Yemi Sanusi; his Secretary , Ayo Olubori; and Senior Special Adviser to Governor Dapo Abiodun on Political Matters , Tunji Egbetokun .
Speaking with our Correspondent on phone , Badru said she had quit the PDP for APC .
She said the development was to formalise her movement and that of her followers in Daniel ’s group into the APC .
She said, “ I am not just joining . I worked for the current governor , Dapo Abiodun ; and if you follow the development , you will know that I was part of the transition committee .
“ It is just to formalise my movement and that of my followers into the APC.”
When
asked if she had written a formal letter to her former party of her
decision to exit, Badru said, “ I did not have to. Those who wrote the
party over their exit, that is their own choice. ”
She explained further that she did not consider it compulsory to inform PDP leaders of her defection .
“ I don’ t think it is compulsory for me to write . I was just a member . I am not a National Executive Council member .”
On whether her former boss , Gbenga Daniel , was informed , Badru said, “ I am an individual; I am an adult . I can take a decision . I am over 60 years old .
“ The Constitution stipulates that I can join any group I want. Yes, he is a leader and I must inform him. The decision is mine , he cannot prevent me from joining .”
She added that she and her followers had joined the APC long before the Tuesday move .
“
We have been going to their meetings. Today was only a family meeting ;
it was just a formality . I have been in the APC before now . ”
She
added, “ I have attended two or three meetings from the same family ,
we are over 1 ,000 today. It was a meeting , not a big event.
“ We were received by the APC chairman , the secretary and the Political Adviser to the governor , Tunji Egbetokun .
“ It was our own meeting . We want the followers to know that we are now in APC .
“ We reaffirm that we are in APC and we believe in what we are doing . ”
