The governorship candidate of the Labour Party in the last election in Ekiti State, Opeyemi Bamidele, has said the All Progressives Congress presidential candidate, Maj. Gen. Muhammadu Buhari (retd.), is the best for Nigeria.

Bamidele, who is representing Ifelodun/Irepodun in the House of Representatives, said his resolve to rid the country of corruption made him team up with the progressives to back Buhari.

Speaking with reporters on Sunday, Bamidele said he had yet to join the APC as a member but would do so after the February general elections because the LP fielded candidates for state and National Assembly elections and that he would have to give them support.

He said, “Buhari remains the best option for our country at this present time and that is why we are deploying the Ekiti Bibire coalition political platform for him.

“Buhari had been military governor, minister, and Head of State. He has both civilian and military backgrounds that can help this nation at this critical period.

“We cannot continue to fold our arms and allow a group under the guise of insurgency continues to decimate our people, even when we have a government at the centre.

“Aside this, aligning with APC is like rejoining my political family. We share the same ideology which is deeply founded on progressivism. I am ready to support any cause that would bring Nigeria out of the wood, regardless of wherever I may be in terms of political association.”

Bamidele, a frontline member of the defunct Action Congress of Nigeria defected to the LP in September 2013 after his frosty relationship with ex-Governor Kayode Fayemi while pursuing his governorship ambition.

Meanwhile, the Ekiti Bibiire Coalition of North America and Canada has commended him for his decision to join hands with progressive Nigerians in support of Buhari-Osinbajo ticket.

“It is always good to see a representative of the people who is not afraid to pursue his conviction and to ally himself with the poor and the marginalised.

“Not only have you demonstrated personal courage and convictions by your willingness to work with politically-minded colleagues and friends, but most importantly you have been able to retain your head while others are losing theirs,” the Secretary-General of the coalition, Bayo Oluwasanmi, said in a statement.