Ex-Ondo PDP lawmaker, others join APC

Over 100 members of the Peoples Democratic Party in Akoko North-East Local Government Area of Ondo State have decamped to the ruling All Progressives Congress.

Among the new defectors is a former member of the state House of Assembly, Mr Rasheed Elegbeleye, who was a minority leader of the Assembly between 2019 and 2023. He represented Akoko North-East Constituency.

Receiving the defectors on Wednesday at Ikare Akoko, the headquarters of the state Chairman of the APC, Ade Adetimehin, said Elegbeleye and others defectors had taken the right and wise decision by joining the ruling party.

Adetimehin said, “Hon. Elegbeleye’s decision to join the winning team is timely and strategic. Our great party, the APC, remains the natural home for progressives, committed to people-oriented governance, inclusive leadership, and sustainable development.

“I want to assure our new members that they will be given equal opportunities and full integration into the party structure.

“Also, I want to encourage all party faithful to remain steadfast in solidarity with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, and Ondo will deliver more than a million votes for Asiwaju’s re-election bid come 2027.”

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In his remarks, Elegbeleye, who expressed gratitude for the warm reception accorded him by the APC leadership, said he would remain faithful to the party’s progressive ideals. He also lauded Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa, the Minister for Interior, Mr. Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo and other leaders of the party for providing good leadership for the party in the state.

“Our decision to join the APC was driven by our belief in the party’s progressive ideals, strong leadership and commitment to delivering good governance to the people. As a loyal party man, I will work tirelessly with party members to advance the APC’s vision at all levels.

“With our defection, there is no opposition in this local government anymore as we have now moved en masse to the progressive fold,” he boasted.

It was earlier reported that many chieftains of the PDP had decamped to the ruling party. Recently, the remaining opposition members in the state Assembly had defected, and also the only member of the PDP from the state in the House of Representatives, Mr Festus Akingbaso, had also joined the APC.

The development has turned the Sunshine State into a completely APC state, as members of the ruling APC are now occupying all elective positions.