All is not well within the fold of the Ondo State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party following the return of Governor Olusegun Mimiko to the party.Mimiko was formally received back to the PDP fold at the Aso Rock Villa on Thursday by its national leaders, confirming a perennial speculation that he would be joining the party.The Publicity Secretary, Wale Ozogor, told our correspondent that some party loyalists feared they might lose all their investments in the party, having signified interest to run for various offices.He said, "It appears while we are willing to negotiate, the leaders of the party are trying to negotiate out some people, that is what we are against."He also noted that the party's constitution recognized the tenure of the officials and Mimiko's return should not annul the arrangement.According to him, officials of the party are ready for negotiation, hoping that Mimiko, as a mature politician, would be fair by allowing the executive members to run their tenure at all levels.Our correspondent however gathered that some notable members were threatening to dumpthe party for the rival All Progressives Congress.A top official of the party who would not want to be named said party members who felt theywould no longer be able to actualise their political ambition with the coming of Mimiko were already thinking of alternative platforms to pursue their ambitions."Some feel they have toiled hard and we're looking forward to the election, but that could be swept away with Mimiko coming in with his men who also have political ambitions. I must tell you the truth, that is the reality," he said.The Deputy Chairman of the party, Fatai Adams, told journalists on Friday that he and members of the state executive committee were prepared to protect the interest of members who had contributed to building the party."However, the state working committee having met in Abuja, have resolved that there is a need to protect the structure of the party at the state, local government and ward levels. We have filed an injunction in the FCT High Court to protect this structure."This is because the primaries are a month away and a lot of aspirants have indicated their interest to contest under this umbrella. We are fully prepared to protect the interest of all members who have labored and spent their resources to make the party to become the beautiful bride today."We are not ready to surrender the structures of this party to anybody, because we were elected and we are prepared to ensure the success of this party," he said.The Director of Publicity, Ayodele Fadaka, raised the issue of the party's Constitution which states that elected officers of the party at state, local government and ward levels were to run for a particular tenure.But the Commissioner for Information, Mr. Kayode Akinmade, in his comment on the development, noted that the standoff was unnecessary as Mimiko, as the leader of the party would be fair to all the members of the party.He however noted that changes were inevitable as Mimiko would be leading a horde of political office holders to the PDP, adding that it was home coming for the governor."The governor is the leader of the party in the state. He will certainly ensure that the interest of everybody is protected," he said.
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