Barring any last minute change of heart and plans, a leader of the All Progressives Congress in Ogun State, Otunba Babatunde Onakoya, fondly called Debasco, is set to lead thousands of his supporters out of the ruling party in the state to a rival political party.
Debasco and his group, it was gathered, have concluded plans to defect from the ruling party in the state to a yet-to-be-identified opposition party.
Our correspondent gathered that finishing touches were now being put into the alleged defection plans by Debasco and his supporters from the ruling APC in the state.
The development, it was gathered, arose from the grievances of Debasco's loyalists and supporters in Ogun State APC over perceived injustice and sidelining of Otunba Onakoya and his group by the administration of Governor Dapo Abiodun in the state.
Debasco and his loyalists, it was further learnt, have also decided to leave the APC in Ogun State due to the rejection of all the aspirants backed by the group in the last APC party primaries in the state.
The Debasco group founded by Otunba Onakoya, you'll recall, was one of the leading political groups that campaigned for former Ogun State governor, Senator Ibikunle Amosun and President Muhammadu Buhari in the state in the 2011 and 2015 elections, which the two APC candidates won with a landslide. Otunba Onakoya also functioned as the Chairman, Mobilisation and Contact Committee during the campaigns for Amosun's second term as governor.
It was further learnt that many opposition party leaders, governorship, senatorial, House of Representatives candidates and even presidential flagbearers have been making overtures to Otunba Onakoya and his Debasco group for the purpose of forging a collaborative relationship in the 2023 general elections.
Confirming the development, one of the APC ward chairmen loyal to Debasco, but who pleaded not to be identified, disclosed to our correspondent the group's resolve to defect to another political party in the state ahead of the 2023 general elections.
According to the visibly angry APC ward chairman, "Our leader, Debasco has done so much for the APC in Ogun State and even at the national level. But it's unfortunate that all the efforts he has put
into making APC the party to beat in Ogun State are not being appreciated by those now holding the reins of governance in our state.
"Debasco loves APC so much and ordinarily won't want to defect, but we, his loyalists, are not happy with the way our leader has been treated in the APC in Ogun State. The APC government in our state seems to be telling our leader, Debasco and we, his loyalists, that we're no longer needed in the party, that we don't matter. So, we have resolved and told him (Debasco) to lead us to another party where we'll be well-recognised, properly accommodated and highly appreciated so that we can work for the success of such a party in all the elections in Ogun State in 2023."
Efforts by our correspondent to speak with Otunba Onakoya (Debasco) were not successful as his phone was unreachable as of the time of filing this report.
But the Head of the Debasco group's Media Team, Mr Segun Oyesanwo declined to comment on the development, saying he had yet to be briefed.
Oyesanwo, however, said he was aware that some highly placed candidates of some opposition parties in the state have been reaching out to the Debasco group since party primaries were concluded for a working relationship.
"The few times this issue has come up in my discussions with him (Otunba Onakoya), he would usually tell me he's expecting directives from above," his media aide said.
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