A former deputy governorship candidate of the Labour Party (LP) in the November 16, 2023, gubernatorial election in Ondo State, Hon Dayo Awude, has defected to the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the state.
Awude, a great supporter of opposition leader, Peter Obi of the LP, with scores of his supporters and members of the Sunshine grassroots Network (SGN) across the 18 local government areas of the state, were warmly received into the fold of the APC by Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa in Akure on Monday.
A former stalwart of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) before joining the LP, Awude defected to the APC alongside the former chairman of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) in the state, Dele Ogunbamerun.
Speaking at the defection ground held at the Akure Town Hall, Awude disclosed that his decision to join the APC with his supporters was informed by the development strides of Governor Aiyedatiwa and the progressive achievements of President Bola Tinubu.
He noted that he and his group of supporters, especially in the Akure axis, have come over to the governing party to add value and ensure that President Tinubu gets an overwhelming victory in 2027.
“The current President [Tinubu] is our son in the Southwest. Should we now open our eyes to allow some people to chase him away in the 2027 general election? No. We must come under this party to ensure he is victorious.
“Yoruba land must be great. We must join hands for its progress. We have come to add value to the APC. I can assure Mr Governor [Aiyedatiwa] that our coming to the party will increase support, especially for President Bola Tinubu.
“So, I’m asking our people to go back to their units and wards to get integrated. We are here for progress and to support our son [Tinubu] and to also support the government of Lucky Aiyedatiwa,” he said.
On his part, the former SDP chairman, Dele Ogunbamerun, said their coming to the APC was an opportunity to serve and support President Tinubu’s re-election bid across the length of the state.
“I see our coming as an opportunity to work. I have gone through a lot in other political parties, but I thank God I am now back home. I appreciate Dayo Awude, who leads us into the fold of the APC.”
Welcoming the defectors, the Chairman of the APC in the State, Ade Adetimehin, saluted the courage of Awude for finally pitching his tent with the ruling party.
He also described the former SDP deputy governorship candidate as a man of capacity, whose weight in the politics of Akure is highly respected at his unit and ward levels.
Presenting Awude and his supporters to Governor Aiyedatiwa, the APC chairman further solicited more support for the party ahead of the 2027 general election.
He assured the defectors of a level playing ground in the APC, urging them to begin canvassing for the party from their various units and extend it to the ward level.
“So, I welcome you all to this party, and we are happy to also receive you, but don’t forget that any politician who cannot deliver his unit and ward is not a politician. I urge all our new members to work towards strengthening the party at the grassroots,” Adetimehin said.
Receiving the Awude and his supporters, both from the LP, PDP, and SDP, Governor Aiyedatiwa said the defectors have made the right choice to join the fold of the APC in the state.
The governor urged the decampees to begin grassroots mobilisation in earnest for the party ahead of the general elections, saying the APC must retain power at the federal and state levels.
“You have made the right decision. This is the right place to be because the utmost interest for any political party is to be in power. For us in APC, we want to retain power, and we must do everything that is needed to retain the power.
“We acknowledge that you have decided to join us. Your coming will be rewarded. As you can see, the dividends of good governance are showing themselves under the leadership of President Tinubu and me as your governor in the state,” he said.
“You all can see that our house is APC. Once again, I want to congratulate you for this very wide decision you have made because there’s no alternative to the APC as of today. Our declaration for Asiwaju is that Ondo State is for Tinubu in 2027.”
He added, “The whole of Ondo state for Tinubu come 2027, and to realise that, you have decided to join us. We know winning Ondo state is not an issue, but to have overwhelming votes, and you are the evidence of those votes.
“I salute the Sunshine grassroots Network. (SGN) who are members of different political parties before joining us. So, the remaining votes that we did not get in the last governorship election will now come for President Tinubu. We have enough room to accommodate all of us.”
