Bamidele dumps APC for Labour Party

Strong indications emerged on Friday in Ado Ekiti, the capital city of Ekiti State that the House of Representatives member , Hon Opeyemi Bamidele may have dumped the All Progressives Congress for another party to realize his gubernatorial ambition.
It was gathered that Bamidele, who is the Chairman, House Committee on Legislative Budget and Research , may join Labour Party.

Bamidele, who served in Lagos for twelve and half years as Special Assistant on political Matters to the ex-Governor Ahmed Bola Tinubu and Commissioner for Information under the incumbent Governor Babatunde Raji Fashola.

Hon Bamidele, who is representing Ado/Irepodun/Ifelodun federal constituency , had indicated his intention to contest the ticket of the party with Governor Kayode Fayemi who had already been adopted by the party for a second term in office.

Senator Babafemi Ojudu while addressing supporters of the party from the southern senatorial district of the state in Ikere-Ekiti, dropped the hint that Bamidele had dumped the party long time ago.

Senator Ojudu, who replaces Hon Bamidele as the chairman, Ekiti State Caucus at the National Assembly, alleged that Bamidele had made his intention to dump the party known to both the National Chairman of the party, Chief Bisi Akande and the national leader, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu at different meetings with them.

Bamidele was said to have come to the meeting held with Tinubu’s Lagos home on Wednesday night and lasted till 4 am on Thursday with some of his supporters.

Senator Ojudu added: “ Two days ago Bamidele informed the national chairman of the party, Chief Bisi Akande of his intention to live the party and also went to our national leader, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, to inform him of his intention to live the APC for another progressive party to realize his ambition since the party has adopted Fayemi for a second term in office.”

Tinubu, according to Senator Ojudu, was said to have insisted that there was no going back on the second term ticket given to Fayemi because of his performance.

But in a telephone interview with Bamidele, he denied that he had left the APC even as he confirmed that he met with leaders of the party which he said was a personal thing to him.

Bamidele said, “ I can confirm to you that I have met with some party leaders, my meetings with party leaders were personal and at the fullness of time I would make my position known. I would not address the issues in piecemeal.

“I also confirm that I spend a great deal of time consulting with God and critical stakeholders. I am not aware that APC as a newly registered political party has even commenced registration of members in Ekiti. If all I have is anything to go by, I understand registration for APC would commence in November 2013.
“ So, if anybody is announcing that I have left the APC, I found that amusing, how can anybody live a party where you have not even registered?

Apart from Senator Ojudu at the ceremony, other members of the National Assembly in attendance were Senator Olu Adetumbi; Senator Tony Adeniyi; Hon Robinson Ajiboye; Hon Bamidele Faparusi; Hon Bimbo Daramola and Hon. Ife Arowosoge.