Starnews Nigeria reported yesterday that the Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, (PDP) in the southwest, Ambassador Taofeek Arapaja, was among the Aspirants screened for the position of Deputy National Chairman of the PDP ahead of the forthcoming National Convention.

More reasons emerged yesterday night why the Oyo State Governor, Engr. Seyi Makinde dumped former governor Olagunsoye Oyinola for Arapaja for the position of the National Deputy Chairman (South) of the party ahead of the national convention.

Besides the reason given yesterday by Starnews Nigeria on the alleged lack of trust due to Oyinlola’s movement from one party to the other, it was also gathered that the governor wants Arapaja, his loyalist and kinsman from the same federal constituency with him to become the Deputy National Chairman (South) so that Arapaja would automatically become the substantive National Chairman of the PDP if a northerner becomes the party’s presidential candidate.

A reliable source hinted at Starnews Nigeria that some leaders of the party from the southwest are said to be raising concern over the endorsement of Arapaja by the governor. According to them, if Arapaja is elected, and eventually becomes the substantive chairman, Seyi Makinde will take over the soul of the party and many leaders in the Southwest who have political differences with him based on his leadership style may press the exit button, the source told Starnews Nigeria on Wednesday night:

Meanwhile, Factcheck conducted by Starnews Nigeria revealed that Arapaja is also not free from the allegation of serial defection from one party to the other as raised against Oyinlola which was the main reason given by Makinde and his group to replace Oyinlola with Arapaja for the position.

Starnews Nigeria learnt that Oyinlola dumped the PDP for the ruling APC in 2014 and later defected to the African Democratic Congress (ADC) in 2018, before he later returned to the party in 2020.

Arapaja who recently rejoined the PDP had also defected to three political parties within the spate of six years that he left PDP. He decamped to Accord party in 2014, to APC in 2017 and later to ADC.”