Ogun State Governor and leader of the All Progressives Congress, Dapo Abiodun, on Friday received hundreds of former members of the Peoples Democratic Party and African Democratic Congress into the APC as the ruling party steps up its mobilisation ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The new members, drawn from the nine local government areas that make up Ogun East Senatorial District, were formally received during a gathering held at the Ojude-Oba carnival ground in Ijebu-Ode.
The event attracted APC members, supporters and political leaders from across the senatorial district, with the defectors pledging to support the ruling party in the next election.
Abiodun welcomed the former opposition members and assured them that they would be treated equally and given the opportunity to participate fully in the affairs of the APC.
He asked the new members to return to their various wards and begin grassroots mobilisation for the party ahead of the 2027 elections.
The governor expressed confidence that the APC would maintain its strong position in Ogun State, pointing to projects carried out by his administration since 2019 as part of the reasons for the party’s support in the state.
Abiodun listed several road projects completed or underway across Ogun East, saying more than 100 roads had been constructed in the district. He added that about 26 of the projects were located in Ijebu-Ode.
Among the projects mentioned were the Gateway International Airport, the Olokola Deep Sea Port, the Olokola-Kajola Gas Industrial Free Zone and various road projects across the senatorial district.
The governor also announced plans for the commencement of the reconstruction of the Ago-Iwoye-Ibadan Road on Monday in partnership with the Minister of Works, Dave Umahi.
The road connects Ijebu-Ode, Ago-Iwoye and Ibadan and, according to Abiodun, was secured with support from the Federal Government under President Bola Tinubu.
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He also disclosed that the state government had awarded contracts for the reconstruction of the Ilishan-Ago-Iwoye-Ijebu-Igbo Road, Okun-Owa Road, Aiyepe-Odogbolu Road and Ikenne-Aiyepe Road.
Abiodun said the projects and other developments in the state would give the APC a strong record to present to voters before the 2027 election.
He predicted another victory for the APC in the state, while criticising opposition parties over what he described as their inability to match the projects carried out by his administration.
The governor also expressed hope that Ogun State would soon become an oil-producing state. He said the development of the Olokola Deep Sea Port and the revival of the Olokola-Kajola Gas Industrial Free Zone could bring more economic opportunities to Ogun East.
Abiodun thanked President Tinubu for supporting development projects in Ogun State and said residents of the South-West would have reasons to support the President in the 2027 presidential election.
The state APC Chairman, Yemi Sanusi, attributed the movement of opposition members into the ruling party to the performance of the Abiodun administration.
Sanusi assured the defectors that they would have the same rights as long-standing APC members. He also encouraged more people from opposition parties to join the APC.
One of the defectors, Asiwaju Oladapo Odumosu, a former PDP member, said the performance of the state government influenced his decision to join the APC with his supporters.
Other new APC members, including Ladi Owoduni, Damilola Talabi, Sesan Odufuwa, Wale Adeyemi, Seun Oguntimeyin, Sunday Taiwo, Adewale Ismael and former ADC chairman in Ijebu North-East, Erinle Opeoluwa, also expressed support for Abiodun’s administration.
Rotimi Okenla, who contested for the Ogun State House of Assembly under the PDP in 2019, said he left the opposition after 17 years because he was convinced by the performance and open approach of the current administration.
The new members pledged to work with other APC supporters across Ogun East and mobilise voters for the party ahead of the 2027 general elections.
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