An ally and trusted friend of Governor Ibikunle Amosun of Ogun State, Mukaila Kazeem, has dumped the All Progressives Congress and defected to the Allied Peoples’ Movement.
Kazeem, who represents Abeokuta North/Obafemi-Owode/Odeda in Ogun State, dumped the APC barely hours after the ruling party inaugurated a reconciliation committee which has been tasked with the job of appeasing aggrieved members.
The lawmaker, it was learnt, was aggrieved because he felt the APC primary was rigged in favour of Olumide Osoba, the son of former Governor Olusegun Osoba.
A source close to Kazeem said, “We were treated badly by the APC in Ogun State after the process was hijacked by Dapo Abiodun and his cabal. They ensured that Osoba’s son was given the ticket. So, we have decided to leave the party for them. We have Governor Amosun’s blessing.
“What was Olumide Osoba’s record in the National Assembly when he served between 2011 and 2015?”
Kazeem’s defection was announced by the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Mr. Yakubu Dogara, on the floor of the chambers on Wednesday.
Amosun had accused APC chieftain, Bola Tinubu, of causing crisis in the Ogun State chapter of the party by imposing his candidates on the party.
He has vowed not to support Mr. Dapo Abiodun who emerged as the APC governorship candidate amid controversial circumstances.
It was learnt that many of Amosun’s allies and supporters are expected to dump the APC soon as the date set by the Independent National Electoral Commission for the submission of names of governorship and House of Assembly candidates draws to a close.
