A retired Colonel of the Nigerian Army, Emmanuel Adegbola and over 13,000 supporters from the Oke Ogun area of Oyo State have pitched their tent with main opposition All Progressives Congress (APC) in the state.
Adegbola, who recently retired from the military, joined the APC in his ward in Saki, and was presented to the National Working Committee (NWC) of the party by the State Secretary of the party, Olanite Tajudeen.
Receiving the defectors at the APC national secretariat in Abuja on Wednesday, the party’s National Chairman, Dr Abdullahi Ganduje said the party was set for the total takeover of the South-West ahead of the 2027 general elections.
“Our blueprint for South-West geo-political zone for 2027 is tagged: “political homogeneity”. In other words, the South-West according to our blueprint, we will work hard and with the help of Allah (SWT) and the people of the state, Oyo will be an APC State in 2027.
“Other states in the zone that is off our hook – Osun state will also be an APC State. That is what we mean by political homogeneity,” he said.
Addressing journalists after he was received by the APC NWC, Adegbola said he was ready to bring his wealth of experience to bear in contributing meaningfully to the progress of the party.
The retired senior Army officer, expressed his commitment to the ‘Renewed Hope Agenda’ of President Bola Tinubu, saying with the support of other party members, they would ensure that Oyo state joins the ruling party by 2027.
“I want to wholeheartedly and highly committed to the Renewed Hope Agenda of Mr. President. We will do everything possible to make sure that we make Oyo State by 2027, an APC state.
“We will do everything humanly possible by the special grace of God, that all nooks and crannies of Oyo State, we have been able to get assured through the National Chairman of the party, Dr. Abdullahi Umar Ganduje.
”He has given us his words and encouragement. That is why we thank the Almighty God for bringing us this far,” Adegbola said.
The retired Colonel was accompanied to the reception by the members of Oyo State Executive Committee of APC, former Chief of Army Staff, Gen. Tukur Buratai, former Minister of Communication, Adebayo Shittu and other leaders of the party from Oyo North.
