Bankole, political paperweight in Ogun – PDP chairman

From James Ogunnaike, Abeokuta

The Ogun state chairman, Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Mr. Adebayo Dayo, has said the party will not lose its sleep concerning the alleged threat by the former Speaker of the House of Representatives, Dimeji Bankole, to defect to the Social Democratic Party (SDP), describing the ex-Speaker as a political paperweight in the state.

He said this yesterday, at the state party secretariat in Abeokuta after inaugurating a 35-member campaign committee for the state governorship candidate of the party, Alhaji Gboyega Isiaka.

The Director- General of the committee, Chief Abayomi Majekodunmi, was one of the governorship aspirants in the state PDP and also a former Chief of Staff to former governor of the state, Otunba Gbenga Daniel.

Dayo said it was a free world, where each individual had the right to associate with any group or party.

Moreover, he added that he (Bankole) could defect if he so wish.

He said, “Everybody has the right to be associated with any group that he wishes. If he (Bankole) defects to another party, you will then know and the people in Abuja will know who is on the ground.

“Somebody, who contested the House of Representatives seat in one local government when he was in office as the Speaker of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and lost, let him now contest in 20 local governments and let us see the outcome.

“Let him contest on any platform and people in Abuja will know whether he is actually on the ground or not. That is all I have to say.”

Dayo said the party could not force everybody to stay in PDP.

He said, “Our prayer is that the more people that are going out, more people that are more than them should be coming in to the party. And with that, we are going to win the election come February 14 by the grace of God.”