Senator Ayo Akinyelure resigns from PDP: The issues

Senator Patrick Ayo Akinyelure

Senator Patrick Ayo Akinyelure AKA, All-over, is the Senator representing Ondo Central Senatorial district at the National Assembly, whose term is going to end by June, submitted to the Senate presided over by Senator Ovie Omo Agege the Deputy Senate President his resignation letter from the People's Democratic Party during plenary on 31st May 2023.

In the letter, which read in part "This is to formally inform you and all my distinguished colleagues in the 9th Senate that I am resigning my membership of the Peoples's Democratic Party with effect from June 11, 2023." He continued by stating that "the decision has come at this time since the ninth Senate is coming to an end soonest, he appreciated the party for the opportunity to serve. He further said his resignation was to enable him settle down and look forward to other areas of human and professional endeavors where he could be of value to Ondo State and Nigeria in general."

As soon as the news reached the ears of his district members and Ondo state, there have been concerns as to why he decamped now, and why not before the general elections? Some says this is the wisdom of a politician. Some are of the opinion he is decamping to the All Progressives Congress, so as to contest for the Governorship election billed for 2024, while some are of the extant opinions that he wants to be on the good book of the Tinubu presidency.

It will be of good note that Senator Akinyelure has been a serial decampee, recall as of 2011 he was in the Labour party where he clinched the first ticket to run for Senate and won. Thence, he decamped to the PDP alongside his Boss, Olusegun Mimiko the then Governor of Ondo state, he lost his Senate bid to Tayo Alasoadura during the 2015 elections a period known to be the APC tsunami for election victory across Nigeria, and as the race for the 2016 Governorship election draws near in Ondo State he decamped to APC where he contested for the Governor but lost at the primary stage to the Incumbent Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu.

Senator Akinyelure never stopped this act of decamping to political wet grounds; he can be likened to Aminu Tambuawal of Sokoto state on this subject matter. When he lost out from the race he hurriedly decamped to the PDP where he was given the ticket to contest for Senate in 2019, he won the election, and he was given the Chairman Senate committee on Ethics & Privileges. As the race for the 2023 election began he contested again but lost to one Chief Ifedayo Adedipe whom later lost out at the general election to APC candidate Ayo Adegbomire.

With three months away from the general election, Senator Ayo Akinyelure has again did as usual, he resign from PDP and yet to announce his new party. Ondo residents are speculating a move to APC or Labour party. 

THE ISSUES

It is worrisome that some politicians don't have good party affiliation policy, they decamp at any point they lose their stronghold. Senator Akinyelure is one who has a penchant for power and can go any length to hold it, how can a man decamp in every political circle, although he is getting what he wants, but it does not give credibility to his person, has citizens see it as non-loyalty to party, the people and the state.

WHAT TO EXPECT

Senator Ayo Akinyelure is likely gunning for the top seat in Ondo state, after the tenure of the Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, SAN led administration. He has taken a swipe at the office before now, he likely will try his luck again, if he will win or not is left to the electorate to decides, but he likely will not, as power is expected to shift to Ondo South Senatorial District. 

Again, there is these possibilities of him wishing to get a ministerial appointment in the Tinubu administration, because as it stands, the Governor is from Ondo North, the Deputy from Ondo South, it is fair to let the Minister be from Ondo Central as far as the power will shift to Ondo South after Akeredolu. Politics is largely on interest and how skillful one can play his card, Akinyelure is good at such.

Concluding, whatever the future holds for the resigning Senator is up to God and the hands of the good people of Ondo state if they want a man like Akinyelure to still lead them in whatever form. 

God bless Ondo State.