'I'm not planning to defect to APC' - Gov says

Mimiko had on Saturday, November 19, welcomed the President to Ondo for the APC campaign rally ahead of the November 26 governorship election in the state.

He said his gesture towards Buhari on Saturday was because of his position as the President and not an indication that he might pitch his tent with the APC.

The Governor stated this on Monday, November 21 while speaking to State House correspondents shortly after meeting Buhari for the second time inside the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

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This is Mimiko's second visit to the Villa since the crisis over the rightful PDP candidate in the Ondo polls started.

Mimiko said: "This is my second visit to the Villa since this crisis in our party started. Like I said, as the Chief Security Officer of my state, if there is any credible threat to security, I owe the responsibility to Nigerians to apprise Mr. President of what is going on in the state.

"Mr. President was in my state to campaign for his party. I extended to him the courtesy of receiving him at the airport and seeing him off as President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, not as APC (member).

"I understand that people have speculated that this means I am going to APC. There is nothing of such. I only extended him normal courtesy that protocols demand.

"As a governor and Chief Security Officer of the state, if the President is visiting, no matter the party he belongs to, it is only appropriate for me to extend the courtesy to him. That was what I did in Akure.

"And I have also come to brief him about the security situation in my state."

On the ongoing crisis in the PDP, Mimiko said he is awaiting the outcome of the case in court, expressing confidence in the victory of his candidate Eyitayo Jegede.