A major political realignment is unfolding in Ondo State after more than 500 members of the opposition Peoples Democratic Party abandoned the party and defected to the ruling All Progressives Congress, dealing a fresh blow to the PDP’s grassroots strength.
The defections took place in Irele Local Government Area, where senior party figures, former office holders and hundreds of supporters formally announced their move at a well-attended gathering in Ode Irele. Among those who crossed over was Dele Olatunji, a former council chairman, alongside several members of the PDP’s local executive structure.
The development underlines a growing trend in Ondo politics, where the opposition continues to lose ground to the ruling party ahead of future electoral contests.
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Welcoming the defectors, Ondo State Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa described their decision as timely and strategic. Speaking through his Special Adviser on Legislative and Party Matters, Babatunde Kolawole, the governor said the mass defection further confirmed the APC’s dominance across the state.
He told the new members that their arrival strengthened the party’s base and urged them to work closely with existing leaders to consolidate recent gains. The governor also made clear that the ruling party was already positioning itself for the next general election cycle, calling on party members to mobilise support for President Bola Tinubu ahead of 2027.
“I want to welcome and congratulate you on your decision to join the winning party,” the governor said. “Your coming has once again shown that the APC remains the leading political force in Ondo State.”
The state Commissioner for Youth and Sports Development, Segun Omoyofunmi, echoed the message, praising the defectors for what he described as a wise and forward-looking move. He encouraged them to integrate fully at ward level and contribute actively to strengthening party structures across the local government and the wider state.
For the defectors, the decision was framed as a response to internal turmoil within the opposition. One of their leaders, Anjorin Dagbatan, a former PDP candidate in the last House of Assembly election, said persistent crises at both national and state levels had left the party weakened and directionless.
“We decided to leave because the crisis in the PDP has not been resolved,” he said. “The APC is the only party with the capacity and vision to move Nigeria forward.”
Dagbatan also praised the Tinubu administration, arguing that the President’s Renewed Hope Agenda was already delivering positive economic signals.
Political observers note that Ondo has become a hotspot for defections in recent years, with many opposition figures switching allegiance as the APC tightens its grip. The latest wave suggests the PDP faces an uphill battle to rebuild confidence among its members, while the APC appears keen to turn momentum into long-term electoral advantage.
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