The political base of the opposition People’s Democratic Party on Monday further depleted, as its former House of Assembly candidate, Hon Niyi Adeogun and other topnotches dumped the the party for the ruling All Progressives Congress.
The Defectors said they took the action because they were enthralled by the radical economic reforms being undertaken by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Governor Biodun Oyebanji, at both central and Ekiti State, respectively.
Adeogun, who spoke while being received by APC bigwigs at his Erinmope/Aaye Oja/Irare Ward, in Moba Local Government, on Monday, commended the populist and welfarist programmes being prosecuted by Oyebanji-led government.
The former PDP chieftain hinged his defection on the way Governor Oyebanji has superintended over Ekiti and pursuing inclusive governance that accommodates politicians across party lines, students women, artisans, civil servants and people at all strata of the society.
Adeogun saluted the governor for spearheading aggressive rural development strategy across the state, especially the opening up of rural in Moba Council by reconstructing Erinmope-Irare road and others to widen the scope of food production to catapult Ekiti to a food security status.
He promised to bring his wealth of experience to bear to energise and strengthen the ruling party at the grassroots, by mobilising the people towards the actualisation of the Governor Oyebanji’s second term bid.
“I am defecting today with the PDP ward Chairman and youth leader among other executive members and politicians that were the life-wires of the opposition in the past.
“I am defecting not for anything, but to support the good work of Governor Oyebanji. He has been complementing what President Tinubu was doing at the Central. Our economy is assuming a higher dimension in Ekiti through the strategic prosecution of the six pillars of this administration.
“Anywhere you go, you see road construction, flyover in Ado Ekiti, Airport already took off, Ado Ekiti Ring road akready completed , Ado-Ikere road completed , Ado-Iworoko-Ifaki road already done, likewise Ikere-Ilawe road, Ikole-Ara-Isinbode road, among others. In fact, Ekiti has become a huge construction site.
“I want to assure you that I will work hard to project the good image of our governor and support other APC members to record a resounding victory for Governor Oyebanji in 2026 election “, he said.
Receiving the defectors, the APC Chairman in Ekiti State, Hon Sola Elesin, assured the decampees of equal treatment, saying discrimination has no root and not contained in the rule book under Governor Oyebanji’s leadership.
Elesin, represented by the Chairman of the Erinmope/Aaye Oja/Irare Ward, Hon Kolawole Olaoluwa, added that “now that you have become our members, be loyal to our party and the governor, who is our leader in whom we are so pleased.
‘You have every right to aspire to any position of your choice. Now that the 2026 election is around the corner, join others and work hard to return the governor, so that all of us can feel and enjoy more dividends of democracy in Ekiti State”.
Speaking about the political influence of the leaders of the defector, a member of the House of Assembly, Hon Idowu Odebunmi, said the APC will surely become stronger in the ward with Adeogun’s defection.
Odebunmi commended Governor Oyebanji for changing the face of politics in Ekiti and attracts influential opposition members through superlative performance and inclusive actions that integrates all into the inner ring of the government.
Speaking at the political event, a former commissioner under Oyebanji, Mr. Jimlas Kayode Fasae, said the governor has succeeded in emasculating the opposition with performance, saying :”with Oyebanji in the saddle, Ekiti has no strong opposition and in 2026, victory is certain”.
Present at the colourful event are: House of Assembly member representing Moba Constituency 1, Hon Abimbola Solanke, her counterparts in constituency II, Hon Jacob Awoniyi, Hon Babatunde Omotayo representing Ise-Orun Constituency, among others.