Scores of members of the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Irele Local Government Area of Ondo State have defected to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), dealing a major blow to the party’s structure at the grassroots level.
The defectors, led by a former council chairman, Hon. Dele Olatunji, and the PDP House of Assembly candidate in the 2023 general election, Hon. Anjorin Peter, popularly known as Opekete, were formally received into the APC on Sunday at the Civic Centre, Ode-Irele. Several PDP executive members also joined the defection.
Welcoming the new members, the APC Chairman in Irele, Hon. Zachariah Omoge, commended the defectors for what he described as their courage and resolve to align with the ruling party.
He assured them of equal treatment with existing members, stressing that the APC had the capacity to accommodate more entrants. Omoge also urged the defectors to actively participate in the party’s membership registration exercise and the ongoing Continuous Voter Registration (CVR).
He further appealed to the new members to uphold party discipline and respect the supremacy of the APC.
The State Woman Leader of the party, Mrs. Mojisola Lijoka, described the defection as a “timely decision,” assuring the defectors of equal opportunities within the party’s structure.
Receiving the defectors on behalf of the state government, Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa said the development was a significant boost to the APC as preparations intensify for the 2027 general election.
The governor, who was represented by his Special Adviser on Legislative and Party Matters, Babatunde Kolawole, said the defection underscored the growing dominance of the APC across Ondo State, describing it as the effective end of meaningful opposition in Irele Local Government Area.
He urged the new members to work closely with party leaders to further strengthen the APC’s structure and electoral prospects in the area.
Also speaking, the Commissioner for Youth and Sports Development, Segun Omoyofunmi, advised the defectors to fully integrate into the party at the ward and local government levels to consolidate unity.
Speaking on behalf of the defectors, Hon. Anjorin Peter said persistent internal crises within the PDP informed their decision to dump the party for the APC.