By Sodiq Adelakun
The opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Ondo State suffered a setback on Wednesday as over 100 members in Akoko North-East Local Government Area defected to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
The defectors were led by Rasheed Elegbeleye, a former Minority Leader of the State House of Assembly who represented the constituency between 2019 and 2023.
Receiving the new entrants in Ikare-Akoko, the State APC Chairman, Ade Adetimehin, described the move as politically sound and timely.
He assured the defectors of full integration into the party structure, stating that the APC remains the platform of choice for progressives committed to inclusive leadership and sustainable development.
Adetimehin utilized the occasion to rally support for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, expressing confidence that Ondo State would deliver over one million votes for the President in the 2027 general election.
Speaking on behalf of the defectors, Elegbeleye cited his confidence in the vision and leadership strength of the APC as the primary reason for the move.
He commended Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa and the Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, for providing purposeful leadership that has attracted opposition members to the ruling party.
Elegbeleye declared that the mass defection has effectively dismantled the opposition’s structure in the local government, shifting the political alignment decisively in favor of the APC.
He pledged to work with existing members to advance the party’s objectives at all levels.
