The House of Representatives candidate of the Zenith Labour Party (ZLP) in Ibadan North-West/Ibadan South-West Federal Constituency in the 2019 general election, Alhaji Bolaji Gbadamosi popularly known as Beejay, has led hundreds of supporters back to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
Gbadamosi, along with many of his supporters, had at an event held at the UMC Secondary School, Oke-Ado, Ibadan, joined dignitaries from other political parties to defect to the ruling PDP in the state, describing his return as ‘home-coming.’
According to him, as a chip off the old block, following in the footstep of his late father, Alhaji Abdulateef Gbadamosi, who was reputed to have brought PDP to Oyo State, his defection to the PDP was a return to his home.
Gbadamosi, who noted that he returned to the PDP because he was fascinated by the governance and leadership style of Governor Seyi Makinde, having worked for his election even as ZLP chieftain, maintained that he would do all within his means to grow the party and advance its cause in Ibadanland.
Gbadamosi, in an interview with newsmen, added that Governor Makinde through his style of leadership, has made politics more attractive and that the PDP has become endearing now that it has someone who believes in equity, fairness and meritocracy, which have been the underlying attributes of the government in the last eight months.
He said: “We are here today to officially mark our defection to the PDP. For me, it is not really a defection but a return home, because PDP is my home.
“Yes, we were forced out of the party at some point because of the leadership’s insensitivity to us and our aspirations but today, I am happy to be back home; to be back to the PDP, a party which my late father, Alhaji Abdulateef Gbadamosi, brought to Oyo State.
“I must also say that the emergence of Governor Seyi Makinde has made the party more endearing and I believe that returning to the PDP to join hands with him to rebuild it in Ibadan South-West is a step in the right direction.
“I use this opportunity to commend the governor for the wonderful job he has been doing in transforming the state and delivering good governance. His style of leadership, his humility and humanness has made politics and the PDP more attractive and as someone who worked for his emergence as governor and believes in him, I don’t see a reason to continue to stay in ZLP.
“So, as I said, I and my followers are back home to PDP and together with all others, we will make the party greater and continue to be the party to beat in Ibadan South-West Local Government and the entire Ibadanland, because it is the only party with sincere commitment to the uplift of the people.”