PDP, ADC Leaders Switch to APC in Ogun State Event

The Oba Adetona Pavilion in Ijebu-Ode, Ogun State, was packed on Friday as many supporters came to see notable members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the African Democratic Congress (ADC) join the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).

The atmosphere felt like a carnival. Apala musician Musiliu Haruna Ishola entertained the crowd as Governor Dapo Abiodun welcomed the new members. He declared that the APC had become the top political choice in Ogun State with the 2027 elections approaching.

The governor looked happy as key figures from opposition parties and leaders from the nine local government areas of Ogun East Senatorial District officially joined the APC. They said their decision was based on what they called the successes of the Abiodun administration.

Welcoming the new members, Abiodun said: "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."

He took the chance to point out his government’s successes since 2019, especially in developing roads and the economy in Ogun East. He mentioned that over 100 roads had been built in the senatorial district, with about 26 in Ijebu-Ode alone. He also highlighted the Gateway International Airport, major road projects, the Olokola Deep Sea Port, the Olokola-Kajola Gas Industrial Free Zone, oil exploration in Ogun Waterside and other important infrastructure as projects that would change the region.

Abiodun announced that the reconstruction of the Ago-Iwoye, Ibadan Road would start on Monday with the Minister of Works, Senator Dave Umahi. He explained that this project runs from Ijebu-Ode through Ago-Iwoye to Ibadan and was secured with help from President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

He also shared plans to rebuild the Ilishan, Ago-Iwoye, Ijebu-Igbo Road, Okun-Owa Road, Aiyepe, Odogbolu Road and Ikenne, Aiyepe Road. The governor stated that Ogun would soon join the list of oil-producing states, while the development of the Olokola Deep Sea Port and the revival of the Olokola LNG (OKLNG) project would further boost Ogun East and strengthen the state’s economy.

Abiodun praised President Tinubu for his support for Ogun State. He expressed belief that the people of the South-West would back Tinubu’s re-election in 2027 due to his administration’s achievements. He said: "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."

Earlier, the Ogun State APC Chairman, Chief Yemi Sanusi, said the influx of opposition members into the APC was due to the performance of the Abiodun administration. Sanusi assured the new members that they would have the same rights and privileges as existing ones, while encouraging other opposition members to join the ruling party and help develop the state.

Abiodun added: "I have requested the names of all of you and will place them on the table. All of us will have equal rewards." He predicted a big win for the APC in the 2027 elections. He said: "We have done a lot. We have done bridges everywhere. In Ijebu-Ode, we have done roads and bridges. We have built an airport. By the grace of God, before the end of the year, Ogun will become an oil-producing state."

The governor challenged opposition members to explain what they could offer voters. He argued that the APC had the upper hand since it controlled both the federal and state governments. He said: "They don’t have governor or senator. What can they promise you? We own the President and he is doing a great work. By God’s grace, we shall win all our elections, starting with the election of Mr President."

Abiodun expressed confidence that power would change hands within the APC after the 2027 governorship election. He said he expected to be at the inauguration of his successor. Some of the prominent defectors included Asiwaju Oladapo Odumosu, Rotimi Okenla, Ladi Owoduni, Sesan Odufuwa, Wale Adeyemi from Ijebu-North, Seun Oguntimeyin from Ijebu-North-East, Sunday Taiwo from Remo North, Adewale Ismail from Ijebu-Igbo and Hon. Erinle Opeoluwa, former ADC Chairman in Ijebu-North-East. The ADC group was led by Erinle.

Speaking for the defectors, Odumosu thanked Abiodun and other APC leaders for the warm welcome. He said the governor’s work had influenced their choice to join the ruling party. He called Abiodun a “fortunate leader” whose achievements could be seen all over the state. He said: "We have seen the impact of your work on our people. I can’t enumerate it all because it’s so many, and today is not a day for campaign."

Odufuwa also said the decision to join the APC came after looking closely at the governor’s performance. He said: "We thank God for the life of our governor. We thought deeply, considered the good work of our governor, and joined APC. In my ward alone in Sagamu, I can point to five roads that the governor built."

The defectors mentioned road construction, free education, the airport and other projects as reasons for their decision. Sunday Taiwo from Remo North said the governor’s development plans changed how they viewed his administration. He said: "Your work opened our understanding and we left a time-wasting party. The party we left wasted our people’s time."

He praised Abiodun for restarting economic projects in Ogun East, especially the Olokola Free Trade Zone and OKLNG project. He claimed that renewed focus on these projects was starting to draw foreign investment. He added that the proposed deep seaport in Ogun Waterside was a big economic chance for the area.

Rotimi Okenla, who ran for the Ogun State House of Assembly under the PDP in 2019, said he joined the APC after 17 years in opposition due to the performance and welcoming nature of the Abiodun administration. He said: "If you see a good governor, you cannot remain in opposition. We see the good work of our governor. The day we met the governor, he did well. He embraced us warmly."

He mentioned that about 350 people from Remo North came with him to the event. He expressed confidence that the APC would win clearly in the area. He said: "In Remo, APC did not use to win but now APC will win 100 percent." Adewale Ismail stated that the PDP had lost its power in Ijebu-Igbo, saying: "No more PDP in Ijebu Igbo."

The ADC team also promised their loyalty to the APC. Erinle Opeoluwa said he came with nine local government chairmen from the ADC and declared that they had no plans to go back to the party. He said: "Our governor has done a good job. Before in ADC, we used to have hypertension but no more. When we met the governor, he embraced us. I came with nine LG chairmen of ADC today. We are not going back to ADC. We are here to stay. We have come to Dapo."

Damilola Talabi also praised the governor’s performance, saying his achievements had silenced the opposition in many areas of the state.

This wave of defections is likely to strengthen the APC's position in Ogun ahead of the 2027 elections. The ruling party wants to secure victories in the upcoming presidential, governorship and legislative elections. The gathering in Ijebu-Ode was not just a normal defection event. It was a show of political strength and a strong message that the path to 2027 in Ogun seems to favor the APC.