Deputy governorship candidate of the Labour Party (LP) in the last governorship election in Ondo State, Hon. Dayo Awude, his supporters and leaders of various political parties have dumped their different platforms and joined the All Progressives Congress (APC).
Awude, a former commissioner and former state vice chairman of the PDP, was received into the ruling party by the state governor, Hon. Lucky Aiyedatiwa, at the event held at the Akure city hall, in the state capital.
Governor Aiyedatiwa congratulated the defectors under the platform of the Sunshine Grassroots Network from various political parties, including PDP, SDP and ADC, for what he described as a wise decision to join the APC.
The Governor said, “In Ondo State, there is no room for coalition; it is one APC. People join political parties for different reasons, but the party’s interest must always supersede every other interest, and for us in the APC, that interest is to retain power.”
He noted that the APC has all it takes to achieve that goal, pointing to what he called the evidence of good governance under the leadership of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu at the federal level and his administration in Ondo State.
“The whole of Ondo State is for President Tinubu come 2027, and the decision of these defectors to join us today is a strong step towards that goal. Joining our party is an assurance that we will do greater numbers and strengthen the APC ahead of the presidential election,” Governor Aiyedatiwa stated.
Awude, the deputy governorship candidate of the Labour Party in the last gubernatorial election, announced his defection to the APC, citing his alignment with the current administration’s progressive ideals and developmental agenda.
Awude said, “I have joined the APC to add value, and I assure Mr. Governor that he will see it. I urge all our party faithful to return to their units and wards to integrate themselves fully. I am here for progress to support President Bola Tinubu and to support the administration of Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa.”
He commended the leadership style of Governor Aiyedatiwa, noting that it informed his decision to join forces with the administration. He pledged to work for the unity and success of the APC in Ondo State.
Another defector, Dele Ogunbameru, former Secretary of the Social Democratic Party (SDP), said he had faced numerous challenges in his former party but now feels at home in the APC. He added that he has joined the ruling party to contribute his wealth of experience and help move it forward.
Ondo State APC Chairman Engr. Ade Adetimehin described Hon. Awude as a man of capacity, noting that true political strength begins in the unit and extends to the ward.
“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.
“Therefore, on behalf of the National Chairman of our party, I want to welcome you into APC formally and I hereby hand you over to the Leader of our party in Ondo State, Governor Lucky Orimisan Aiyedatiwa”, Adetimehin said.
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