By Adeola Badru
IBADAN — More than 250 members and chieftains of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and Accord Party have defected to the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Oyo State ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The defectors were received by the Oyo State leadership of the APC, led by its chairman and former Deputy Governor, Moses Alake Adeyemo, during a reception held at Watershed, Old Ife Road, Ibadan, on Friday.
Addressing the new members, Adeyemo assured them of full integration into the party, saying they would not be discriminated against or denied equal participation in the affairs of the party.
He said the APC was gaining support in the state amid what he described as dissatisfaction with the administration of the state government, adding that the party was positioned to provide an alternative in the 2027 election.
According to him, “The people of Oyo State are tired of the maladministration of the APM, hence their desire for a change.”
“APC remains the only party that can produce the required change in 2027. You have made the right decision. I am assuring you that you will not regret your action.”
Also speaking, the APC governorship candidate, Sharafadeen Alli, outlined some of the policies he said his administration would pursue if elected governor in 2027.
Alli said his proposed administration would prioritise education and healthcare, as well as review the state’s security architecture to address kidnapping, banditry and other security challenges.
He said, “Our government will revamp the education, health and other sectors of the economy.
“We are going to rejig the security architecture to bring an end to the reported cases of kidnapping, banditry and other vices in the past seven and half years.
“There will also be a civil service reform with the training and retraining of workers.
“Also, our administration will revisit the issue of the Circular Road that has left thousands of people homeless.
“The local government autonomy will be the topmost priority of our administration.”
Alli also pledged to pursue civil service reforms through continuous training and retraining of workers and review issues surrounding the Circular Road project.
He identified local government autonomy as another priority of his proposed administration.
Speaking on behalf of the defectors, Hon. Olamiposi Ojo, popularly known as Bibire Forum, who led members from Accord, said their decision to join the APC was based on what he described as the party’s commitment to internal democracy.
Ojo also cited the leadership of President Bola Tinubu and what he described as the President’s impact on the country as factors behind their decision.
He said, “Our decision is based on the leadership quality of President Bola Tinubu and the way he has been able to transform the country.”
Similarly, Taoheed Ademola Lucky described the defection as a “homecoming” and expressed confidence in the APC’s prospects ahead of the 2027 elections.
He pledged that his supporters would mobilise and work for the success of the APC at both the state and federal levels in the forthcoming elections.
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