Mimiko’s deputy, Olanusi, leaves PDP for APC

Ali Olanusi, deputy governor of Ondo state, has defected from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC).

Olanusi had joined PDP in August 2014 when his boss, Governor Olusegun Mimiko, ditched the Labour Party (LP) for a return to his original party.

His defection comes four days after Tele Ikuru, the Rivers state deputy governor, left Governor Rotimi Amaechi in APC and defected to PDP.

According to Daisi Ajayi, his chief press secretary, the defection was occasioned by the governor’s decision to rejoin PDP without recourse to his deputy’s preferences.

Olanusi was himself a PDP man, in fact state chairman of the party. But after leaving PDP to LP, on which platform he contested and won the governorship election, Mimiko named Olanusi his running mate.

An Akure-based politician who confirmed the defection to TheCable expressed “shock” at its timing.

“This is the same Olanusi who still campaigned for PDP six days ago,” he said. “This is a real shock.”