Ike Ekweremadu, Senate deputy president, on Monday faulted the return of Olusegun Mimiko, former Ondo state governor, to the Labour Party (LP).
Mimiko had last Thursday defected from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the LP, citing personal reasons.
Ekweremadu, who was flanked by David Mark, former Senate president, and other PDP national leaders, said the action of the former governor could be as a result of threat from high quarters.
The Senate deputy president said Mimiko could have remained in the PDP and help rescue the country.
He spoke at the Akure Airport while on his way to Ekiti state for the PDP gubernatorial campaign.
“We understand that one of our leaders, who we gave an opportunity to be a minister of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, who we gave opportunity to be the governor of this state and who we made chairman of the PDP Governors’ Forum, has left us out of threat.
“Those who are unfaithful will never last long. Like smoke, he has left us and now we can see clearly.
“We can see those who are gentlemen and those we can depend on to salvage our country,” he said.
Ekweremadu accused the President Muhammadu Buhari government of persecuting PDP leaders, saying Nigeria was going through its darkest hours.
He expressed confidence that the PDP candidates would win Ekiti and Osun governorship polls as well as 2019 general elections.
He said: “The PDP leaders including all of us are facing persecutions, smear campaigns and threat.
“I want to tell you that this is our darkest hour in our country. As they say, the darkest part of the night is when it is almost dawn.
“So, we are almost at the day light. Let everybody exercise patience. We want to appeal to everybody that we are democratic and we are going to win in democratic form.
“We eschew bitterness. We eschew any kind of violence so that our winning will be in PDP way which is peaceful.
“So, the success of PDP next year will start in Ekiti. By July, we are going to ensure we win in Ekiti.
“We are going to thank the Southwest because they are leading to this success. After that of Ekiti, it is Osun state.
“And after Osun, we will be winning all the way. We thank you for standing by us.”
Clement Faboyede, PDP state chairman, expressed optimism that the party would win elections in the state without the effort of Mimiko, adding that the party was formidable enough to win the next year’s general elections.
Former vice president, Atiku Abubakar, and former Ogun state governor, Otunba Gbenga Daniel, had earlier addressed the state party leaders, assuring them of the return of the party to government in 2019.