Ace Radio Presenter and politician, Hon. Ayobami Davies popularly known as ‘Baba Bintin’ has described his defection from the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in Oshodi-Isolo LGA to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) as a homecoming.
Davies who was PDP’s Councillorship candidate for Ishagatedo-Ire/Akari Ward F4 in the last local government election where he lost to the incumbent councillor, Hon. Abisodun Odusina-Adeoye of the APC formalised his defection to the ruling party penultimate Wednesday by attending the caucus meeting of Justice Forum alongside hundreds of his followers whom he said were drawn from the six zones in the ward.
His attendance at that meeting ended weeks of speculation in the community.
Speaking exclusively with Theliberationnews, Davies explained that he moved to APC to pursue his future aspirations and add value to the ruling party as he accused PDP leaders of not being futuristic.
He described leaders of his previous party as full-time politicians who only make money off the platform rather than pursue victory in elections.
He also accused them of being PDP chieftains in morning and APC members at night.
Theliberationnews observed that the party had an abysmal outing in the 2023 general elections.
In the presidential election, PDP amassed 3,139 measly votes compared to APC’s and Labour Party’s 27,181 and 51, 020 votes, respectively.
For the gubernatorial election, the party also had a poor result coming third with 2,515 votes for its candidate, Adeniran Azeez Olajide (Jandor) as against LP’s 24,948 votes for Gbadebo Rhodes-Vivour and APC’s 36,792 for its flagbearer, Babajide Olusola Sanwo-Olu.
Same was the case for the senatorial, House of Representatives and share house of assembly elections in the LGA.
“My defection to APC was based on God’s direction. I’ve learnt to put God at the centre of my life. As the incumbent spokesperson of PDP in Oshodi-Isolo, I left the party because of the need to pursue my aspirations of making meaningful impact in my community. And to achieve that you need a viable platform. Although, I am not a politician by profession but when I joined them (PDP) fully I saw things clearly for myself most of them they are full time politicians and that is not ideal. They are PDP in the morning and APC at night. Using the platform for business, they are not so concerned about winning. And as I am I have a future, I joined them (PDP) because I believe we can change the narrative. People know me to be a man of my word, I do what I say. I want people to know that all politicians are not the same.
“When we decamped to APC last Wednesday, hundreds of my followers across the six zones in Ishagatedo-Ire/Akari Ward F4 and I were warmly received into the fold and that gladdened my heart.
“I want people to know that it’s not about party. We moved to the party to make meaningful contributions and let our impacts be felt in an incredible way. We have come to work and it’s not all about money. I want to be the poorest politician and the most performing politician and I believe God will make that possible.
Speaking further, the realtor cum politician added that: “I can tell you that we decamped to the party with full force, we have former members of the Labour Party with us as well as former PDP members from the 6 six zones in the ward. All the structure of PDP and LP came with me.”
Shedding more light on why and how he chose APC, Davies said: “Being a Lagosian, I was born and brought up in Isolo and APC is unarguably the people’s party. Lagos is APC, APC is Lagos. It is best to join the people’s party. For a very long time I’ve been an admirer of APC’s former party chairman, Otunba Henry Oladele Ajomale due to his progressive style of leadership and the fact that he is a father figure to all that are closer to him. There was a time I went to make a presentation to him in his church at LSPDC Estate, Ile-Iwe Metta. He is a great leader who wants success for this followers and people at large. Also, Alhaji Mukaila Ajao (Milanco), I’ve known him as far back as 2001 and even Ganiyu Solomon, I handle his adverts on Radio among other leaders.
“Worthy of mention is the fact that, My dad’s elder brother, the former IGP Musiliu Smith advised me against joining PDP then but I was already a member of the party. What I have done now is to retrace my steps and return home. I will not say that I joined the wrong party by going to PDP then but I can say that I have been able to learn more about politics and now I am in APC to work.”
Speaking of his expectations from the party leaders, Davies said he chose to join Justice forum because of what the caucus stands for asserting that its ideology is deep-rooted in APC’s ideal and he expects Justice to always reflects in the party’s activities.
