Kingsley Fanwo, Kogi State commissioner for Information and Communications, has said that the peace moves by Governor Usman Ododo have paved the way for the lawmaker representing Yagba Federal Constituency of Kogi State in the lower chamber of the National Assembly, Leke Abejide, to desire the All Progressives Congress (APC).

Fanwo, who spoke in an interview, noted that the projects executed by the lawmaker so far suggest that he is a progressive.

According to him, Abedeji’s party, Action Democratic Congress (ADC), is too small for his status, and the majority of them have started telling him to come back to the progressives’ family.

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Speaking on Ododo’s exceptional leadership quality, Fanwo said: “He (Ododo) started it even before his election. I remember he called me one day while we were consulting for his election, and that we were going to visit somebody. I told him the man was in the People’s Democratic Party (PDP). He asked me if he was a Kogite. I said, yes. And he said he was aspiring to be the Governor of Kogi State. From that day, it was very clear that he was coming to bridge divides and bring everyone to the table to dialogue on the development of Kogi State.

“He disarmed even his opponents with his disposition to peace and engagement. He’s ready to dialogue with anyone and bring everyone into the Kogi project. That is why you see that opposition is dying in the state.”

Speaking on the possible defection of Abejide to APC, he said: “The majority of the people of Kogi State are very happy with the governor. The governor is relating with everyone, including Rt Hon. Leke Abejide. No governor will ignore a big factor, a performer and a lover of his people like Elder Leke Abejide.

“The member representing Yagba Federal Constituency has proven over and over again that he’s a fantastic representative of his people. I’m from his Federal Constituency, and I’m one of the people clamouring for his defection to the APC.

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“ADC is too small for his status, and the majority of us are already telling him to come back to the progressives’ family. When you look at his projects and programmes, you’ll discover that he’s a progressive at heart. He shouldn’t stay a week longer in ADC. We want him to defect to our party, and we’ll also go round the 34 wards of the Federal Constituency to campaign for his continuity.

“We have no problem with those playing the politics of rotation. It’ll rotate at the right time. They have the right to clamour for rotation. But the majority of his constituents want him to continue beyond 2027, and we’re ready to give him all the necessary support. There’s no vacancy yet. When there’s a vacancy, we’ll let those eyeing the seat know. For now, it’s Leke Abejide beyond 2027. We want him to continue his good work and also get more relevance in the House in order to continue to develop our Federal Constituency.

“A ranking member will benefit us more than a new member. After his 3rd term, we’ll tell him to step down; by then, the new person will benefit from the recognition Elder Leke Abejide would have given to Yagba Federal Constituency.

“We’re in touch with him and we can assure all our people in Yagba that the big fish is on his way to the largest political party in Africa.”