The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Ondo State said on Sunday that it had set up a nine-man committee to liaise with the national leadership of the party to persuade and ensure that Gov. Olusegun Mimiko defected to the PDP.

At the moment, Mimiko belongs to the Labour Party.

A chieftain of the PDP, Mr Gbenga Elegbeleye, said this to newsmen at Ikare-Akoko in Ondo State on Sunday on the outcome of the meeting of the Ondo North Senatorial District of the party.

According to Elegbeleye, who is the Director-General of the National Sports Commission (NSC), membership of the committee includes representatives from the three senatorial districts of the state.

Olusegun-Mimiko, Governor, Ondo State

He disclosed names of the committee members to include Mr Ebenezer Alabi, the state party Chairman, and Mr Kingsley Kuku, the Special Adviser to President Goodluck Jonathan on Niger Delta Affairs,.

He said that Mr Tokunbo Kayode, former Minister of Defence; Sen. Bode Olajumoke and Chief Olusola Oke, former governorship candidate of the party in the 2012 gubernatorial election in the state, were also members of the committee.

Other members are Dr Eddy Olafeso, former Ondo State Commissioner for Information; Mr Denis Alonge, the Deputy National Youth Leader, and Elegbeleye.

Elegbeleye said the party’s relationship with Mimiko and his people would start immediately after he had declared formally for the PDP.

He expressed the hope that the governor’s declaration would come after the National Executive Council (NEC) meeting of the Labour Party slated within the week.

The NSC director-general expressed optimism that the defection of Mimiko and his political machinery to the PDP would be a blessing and advantage to the party.

“Once the governor and his team move to the PDP, it will make things easier for the PDP because elections in recent time in the state has always been between the LP and the PDP.

“The focus now is on the 2015 national, state assemblies and presidential elections but my main concern is the presidential election because of my loyalty to the president.

“I am quite confident that President Goodluck Jonathan will win the election in the entire South West and other parts of the country due to the structure on ground,” Elegbeleye said.

He said the presidential election was different from other elections and the issue of regionalism would have no place.