Many members of the Peoples Democratic Party across the 18 local government areas of Ondo State, on Tuesday, defected to the ruling All Progressives Congress.
Among the defectors were members of the state branch of the National Union of Road Transport Workers, who said they were tired of their former party and ready to work for the re-election of President Bola Tinubu in the 2027 election.
Receiving the defectors at the APC Secretariat in Akure, the state capital, APC Chairman, Ade Adetimehin, urged them to return to their wards and begin mobilising for the President’s re-election.
Adetimehin said the ruling party had no opposition in the state, adding that Tinubu’s performance in Ondo attracted more people to the party.
He said, “I want to welcome you to our great party. This is the party of victory.
“In APC, we don’t discriminate; there are no old members, there are no new members. We are all equal. That is why we are winning every day.
“Also, I want you to go back to your respective wards and local governments to work.
“It is your capacity that will determine your reward in APC. We give everyone equal opportunities. You are welcome.”
Speaking on the federal interventions in the state, Adetimehin said, “President Tinubu has done well for us in this state. We can all see what he is doing.
“His Renewed Hope Initiatives are favouring us, with appointments for our people and work on new road construction in Ondo State. We must work hard to give him a landslide victory here.”
The leader of the defectors under the Asiwaju Transport Movement, Mr Ojo Adewole, said their defection was inspired by the federal interventions in the state, particularly in road rehabilitation and construction.
Adewole said the defection of over 1,000 members from the 18 local government areas was encouraged by the Minister of Interior, Mr Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, who he described as a true leader.
He said, “Why do we defect? We were encouraged to join APC by our minister, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo. We thank him for the opportunity, and we will not disappoint him nor the party.
“What we saw is that road projects started under the immediate past administration of the late President Muhammadu Buhari were continued by President Bola Tinubu.
“We are NURTW members, and we know the importance of good roads. This is part of what President Tinubu is doing in this state.
“The dualisation of the Benin-Ilesa Expressway, the Ore-Ondo-Akure road expansion, the Akure-Ado Ekiti Expressway, and the coastal highway are all ongoing.
“We are delighted with these projects, which are part of why we support President Tinubu for a second term.”
It was earlier reported that the only PDP member from Ondo State in the National Assembly, Mr Festus Akingbaso, and the three remaining PDP members in the state House of Assembly recently defected to the APC, leaving the state effectively a one-party state.
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