By Banji Ayoola
Arrangements have been finalised by Accord Party’s governorship candidate in last year’s July 16, governorship election, Dr. Akin Ogunbiyi to join the All Progressives Congress (APC).
It was gathered that plans are already in top gear to welcome the insurance magnate into the APC, which is the immediate former party in power, and now the leading opposition party in the state.
Confirming the development, an APC chieftain in the state who spoke on condition of anonymity said the move is almost a done deal and will soon become public.
According to him, Ogunbiyi is strategising ahead of the next governorship election in the state to give Governor Ademola Adeleke a proper challenge.
It was also learnt that his move to APC is authentic.
The source said: “He has been trying to come in for sometime with some vacillation but he seems to be firmly ready now. I think he is banking on the permutations that APC might be conceding the ticket to Osun West in the next election”.
It was also gathered that perfected plans to announce Ogunbiyi’s defection to APC alongside his loyalists in his hometown, Ile-Ogbo in Ayedire Local Government Area are already concluded.
One of his supporters said: “We the Idera de group under the supervision of Dr. Akin Ogunbiyi on the platform of PDP in Ayedire are announcing to the world that we will join APC.
“The ceremony will hold at the Ile-Ogbo Market square at 3pm.
“Our resolve to dump the PDP and join the progressives is for the glory and development of Ayedire and Osun state in general. All lovers of progressives are invited.”
Ogunbiyi, who is the Group Chairman of Mutual Benefit Assurance Plc, contested the governorship primary with the incumbent Governor Ademola Adeleke in 2018 on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party.
But he pulled out of the exercise in 2022 alleging a lack of trust in the leadership of the PDP which he accused of perfecting plans to cede the ticket to Adeleke.
The aggrieved politician later moved to the Accord Party (AP) where he emerged as that party’s governorship candidate in the 2022 governorship election.
Ogunbiyi reportedly returned to the PDP after the 2022 governorship election, but reportedly also, the party did not welcome him.
