Some chieftains of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Oyo State led by a member of the House of Representative, representing Ibarapa North/Ibarapa Central, Hon. Muraina Ajibola, former Special Adviser to Governor Seyi Makinde, Asiwaju Yemi Aderibigbe and Engr. Remi Oseni have led hundreds of PDP supporters to join the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Oyo State.
The public ceremony of the party switch was held at APC Secretariat at Oke Ado, Ibadan on Saturday.
The decampees were received by the APC governorship aspirant, Senator Teslim Folarin, Chairman. Mr. Isaac Omodewu, Hon. Mojeed Olaoya and other party leaders and executives in the state.
Other decampees were former Chairmen, Ibadan North, Ido, Kajola Local Government, Hon. Demola Omotoso, Hon. Akeem Okedina, Chief Michael Adegbite, Hon. Wasiu Emiola, former PDP state Secretary, Hon. Soji Olaojo, Sir Adigun Olawuwo, Hon. Hussein Akinlabi, Alhaji Surakat Busari, Hon Femi Ajayi Oye and former PDP Youth Leader, Adekola Adeoye.
Addressing the journalists, the Senator representing Oyo Central Senatorial District and APC governorship aspirant, Sen. Teslim Folarin, expressed that the quality of people decamping the Peoples Democratic Party to pick their tent with All Progressives Congress guarantees victory for the party in the elections.
According to him, “It will guarantee us victory, there is no question about that and there is still more coming. We just want to stagger the process. Like I said at the podium, look at the quality of the players we are bringing to the team, tested politicians, winners, politicians who are not used to losing, those are the people we are bringing into the fold.
“There is also one point I want to make, in APC today once you join, you have equal rights and privileges with everyone, so, that is attraction for them to come, there are more coming,” Folarin said.
The APC state Chairman, Mr. Isaac Omodewu said that the defection is just the beginning of exodus that will hit PDP soon, saying that process is ongoing to receive decampees from the Labour and other parties.
“This is one of our aims and objectives, to bring in a lot of people into the party. This is the first batch other sets are coming, and we just want to start it set by set. Efforts are ongoing to bring everybody on board to ensure that APC wins the next election and we are winning, we are taking the government back in Oyo State by the special grace of God.”
While speaking on what he is bringing to the APC, one of the decampees, Hon. Muraina Ajibola, said that he is bringing his electoral value and wealth of experience that he used to coordinate the PDP and helped the party to take over power in 2019 to the APC.
Hon. Ajibola expressed his readiness to use all within his capacity to win Oyo State back for APC come 2023 general elections.
Also decamped were Chief Olawuwo Adigun, Hon. Sabitu Moliki, Hon. Gbenga Coker, Hon, Bola Akinyemi, Hon. Suleiman Awujoola, and Mrs. Hannah Olufunke Babarinde.
