On Saturday, 21 January, 2023, two-term member of the House of Representatives for Agege Federal Constituency, Honourable Olakunle Amunikoro reportedly defected from the All Progressives Congress (APC) to the People’s Democratic Party (PDP).
The defection took place in Agege during the ward-to-ward visit of the PDP Governorship Candidate for Lagos State, Dr Abdul Azeez Olajide Adediran.
In the pictures of the event circulated on the social media, Dr Adediran was seen handing over the PDP flag to the former House of Representatives member with smiles and evidence of an accomplishment on the faces of those around him.
However, when thegazellenews.com sought Amunikoro’s reasons for defection, he denied the story, saying he is still a member of the APC although an aggrieved one.
According to him, Adediran and his team were in Agege and they deemed it fit to visit him as a political leader in the the area.
“He came with his entourage and I told him we are members of the APC and he told me we’re visiting you because you’re a political leader in this community.
“He told me we’re one having been one of us before joining PDP,” he said.
Asked why did he accept the party flag offered to him, he replied, “I don’t want to embarrass him (Jandor) in front of the media, so I’ve to collect the flag. That does not mean I’ve joined the PDP”.
When told he should have debunked the report that has been in circulation since Saturday, 21 January, 2023, he said no one journalist called him except thegazellenews.com.
When told the onus lies on him to react, he didn’t respond. He was however emphatic in denying the defection.
Thegazellenews.com went further to speak with a Chieftain of the PDP in Agege, he burst out in sarcastic laughter when told of Amunikoro’s denial.
“Look he’s not a baby politician. He just lying. How will you collect another party’s flag and you said you’ve not defected? Was he forced to collect the flag? Was he the only leader visited by Jandor and his team? Don’t mind him, he’s just being mischievous,” our source said.
However, a video of the event in possession of thegazellenews.com might have confirmed the PDP claim.
In the video, Jandor was seen handing over the flag to Amunikoro saying, “we officially welcome you the People’s Democratic Party, welcome back home and congratulations”.
In the video, Amunikoro stood up, collected the flag while Jandor prayed profusely for him.
