Abiodun Welcomes Thousands of PDP, ADC Defectors into APC, Charges Ogun East to Mobilise for 2027
... says APC’s performance leaves opposition with little to campaign with
Ogun State Governor and leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Prince Dapo Abiodun, on Friday received thousands of former members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and African Democratic Congress (ADC) into the ruling party, as he intensified mobilisation ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The new APC members, comprising party leaders, political office holders and supporters from the nine local government areas of Ogun East Senatorial District, were received at an elaborate event held at the Ojude-Oba carnival ground in Ijebu-Ode.
The venue was filled with APC members, supporters and the new entrants who formally declared their allegiance to the ruling party.
Welcoming the defectors, Governor Abiodun described their decision to join the APC as evidence that they had recognised the achievements of his administration and the direction of the state.
“We are happy you have seen the light and you have decided to follow the light. You have become one of us from now on,” the governor said.
Abiodun urged the new members to return to their respective wards and work alongside existing APC members to strengthen the party ahead of the 2027 elections.
He expressed confidence that the APC would retain its dominance in Ogun State, citing the administration’s achievements in infrastructure and other sectors since 2019.
According to the governor, more than 100 roads have been constructed across Ogun East, with about 26 of such projects located in Ijebu-Ode.
He also highlighted major projects including the Gateway International Airport, Olokola Deep Sea Port, Olokola-Kajola Gas Industrial Free Zone, oil exploration activities in Ogun Waterside and other economic infrastructure across the senatorial district.
Abiodun further announced that the reconstruction of the Ago-Iwoye–Ibadan Road would be officially flagged off on Monday in collaboration with the Minister of Works, Senator Dave Umahi.
The governor explained that the road, which connects Ijebu-Ode through Ago-Iwoye to Ibadan, was secured with the support of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
He added that the state government had also awarded the reconstruction of the Ilishan–Ago-Iwoye–Ijebu-Igbo Road, Okun-Owa Road, Aiyepe–Odogbolu Road and Ikenne–Aiyepe Road.
Taking a swipe at opposition parties, Abiodun challenged them to point to similar infrastructure projects executed during their time in government.
“Help me to ask them if they have ever done even a kilometre of road?” he asked.
The governor maintained that the APC’s record in office had left opposition parties with little to campaign with ahead of the 2027 elections.
“Anyone just making any baseless noise is just lying to you, because in 2019, they fell, in 2023, they also fell and I am certain that in 2027, they will also fail,” he said.
Abiodun also expressed optimism that Ogun State would soon join the league of oil-producing states, while stressing that the development of the Olokola Deep Sea Port and revival of the OKNLG project would further boost economic activities in Ogun East.
He commended President Tinubu for his support for Ogun State, particularly in the area of infrastructure, and expressed confidence that the people of the South-West would support the President in the 2027 presidential election based on his performance.
“Every son and daughter of the South-West will vote for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in 2027, not because he is a son of the soil, but because of his antecedents in developing the country in terms of infrastructural and economic development,” he said.
Earlier, Ogun State APC Chairman, Chief Yemi Sanusi, attributed the increasing number of opposition members joining the APC to the performance of the Abiodun administration.
Sanusi assured the new members that they would enjoy equal rights and privileges within the party, urging other opposition members to join the APC and contribute to the development of the state.
Speaking on behalf of the defectors, Asiwaju Oladapo Odumosu, a former PDP member, thanked Governor Abiodun for accepting him and his supporters into the APC.
Odumosu said the administration’s performance and accommodating approach influenced their decision to leave the opposition.
Other defectors, including Ladi Owoduni, Damilola Talabi and Sesan Odufuwa from Odogbolu; Wale Adeyemi from Ijebu-North; Seun Oguntimeyin from Ijebu-North-East; Sunday Taiwo from Remo North; Adewale Ismael from Ijebu-Igbo; and former ADC Chairman in Ijebu-North-East, Hon. Erinle Opeoluwa, also praised the governor’s leadership style.
Rotimi Okenla, who contested for the Ogun State House of Assembly under the PDP in 2019, said he decided to join the APC after 17 years in the opposition, citing the performance and accommodating nature of the Abiodun administration.
The defectors pledged their loyalty to the APC and promised to mobilise their supporters across Ogun East for the party’s victory in the 2027 general elections.
