It was with pomp, pageantry, and fanfare that the former members of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP in Osun State, formally defected to the opposition party in the state, the All Progressives Congress, APC.
The former PDP gubernatorial aspirant in the 2022 Osun governorship election, Prince Dotun Babayemi and former National Deputy Chairman of the People's Democratic Party, PDP, Chief Shuaibu Oyedokun and their supporters defected to the APC.
This is even as the Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Adegboyega Oyetola; National Secretary of the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC, Senator Ajibola Basiru and other defectors expressed readiness to take power from the incumbent Governor Ademola Adeleke come 2026.
Addressing the mammoth crowd populated by his supporters at the APC State Secretariat on Friday in Osogbo, Prince Babayemi affirmed their readiness and commitment to work relentlessly with members of the party to dislodge the incumbent Governor Ademola Adeleke in the next governorship election in the state.
He said their defection to the opposition party was based on personal and collective conviction to work in unison with the progressive minds towards building a virile and vibrant party to oust out the incumbent government come 2026.
He said: "I have said a lot about our defection, and I won't say much today. As you all know, good governance in Osun stopped in 2022 immediately the former Governor Adegboyega Oyetola left power. It is obvious that since then, the people of Osun have not been experiencing good governance. What we have today are political interlopers and usurpers.
"So, we are coming home today to work together with leaders and members of the APC in Osun and beyond to record more electoral successes and victories in the future elections. We will work tirelessly to take power from the PDP come 2026.
"We commend President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for his great works. It is obvious that he was determined to reposition the country and take us to greater heights. We believe in his leadership, and we pray God to continue to grant him enablement to achieve all the lofty programme designed to take the country to enviable heights, "he added.
In his short remarks, the former PDP Deputy National Chairman, Chief Shuaibu Oyedokun, attributed his defection to the palpable inequality and lingering crisis in his former party saying his defection is based on personal conviction.
Oyedokun pledged his unalloyed commitment to further advance the cause of his new party, adding that his return is divine and a clarion call to collectively wrestle power from the ruling party in the state come 2026.
The former member of the PDP National Working Committee who narrated their ordeals in their former party faulted the 2022 Osun governorship primary that led to the emergence of Senator Ademola Adeleke admitting that the primary was outrightly skewed to favour the incumbent Governor.
Oyedokun appealed to Nigerians home and abroad to rally round President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in his efforts to build a nation dreamt by all and sundry.
The Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Adegboyega Oyetola, lauded the defectors for their uncommon courage and bravery, which culminated into their choice of the party - the APC.
"I thank you all. I thank God that since we left the government, our party and its members remain resolute and united. It is worthy of note that we are increasing every day in number and size.
"I want to assure you that you are all accepted wholeheartedly, and with open arms, there is equal right for all. There won't be any discrimination whatsoever, and I want to assure you that you would be wholeheartedly received at your various wards and local governments with open arms.
"We must all work together to come back to power. We are confident in God that we will return to power. APC is the God's chosen Party. I commend all of you for your commitment and dedication that had been leading to the peaceful running of the affairs of our great party thus far, "Oyetola stated.
Earlier, the state APC Chairman, Alhaji Tajudeen Lawal, acknowledged the rare courage exhibited by the decampees describing the decision as a "round peg in a round hole."
"Your decision to defect to APC is a wise choice which was influenced by God who has been your political pathfinder as the APC is a party of the people. It is not an overstatement to state that Osun state is a traditional APC enclave and any other party that may be occupying a political space in the state is a mere tenant which will soon be shown the way out of the power.
"The more the merrier. Let's work assiduously towards the next series of elections in the state and take back our state from those grossly lacking administrative know-how as it is being reflected in their actions and inactions on daily basis", he added.
In his welcome address, the Chairman, Defection Committee, Mayegun Debo Badru lauded the former Governor and Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Adegboyega Oyetola for setting up the defection committee which was populated by people of impeccable characters.
He reaffirmed the commitment of the leadership and members of the party to kick out the PDP government out of power in the next governorship election.
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