Oyetola declares Osun APC a united family as PDP heavyweights defect

Ahead of the 2026 governorship polls, the Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Adegboyega Oyetola, has declared that the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Osun State remains a united family with no room for discrimination against new members.

Speaking on Saturday during a grand reception in Osogbo, the former Governor welcomed a significant wave of defectors from the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), including several high-ranking National Assembly members.

The event also served as a formal platform for the Osun APC to endorse President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for a second term in 2027.

The defection marks a shift in the state’s political landscape, bringing in serving lawmakers such as Senators Francis Fadahunsi and Olubiyi Fadeyi, alongside House of Representatives members Wole Oke, Omirin Olusanya, and Taofeek Ajilesoro.

Oyetola described their decision to join the progressive fold as a labour of love for the state, emphasizing that their arrival strengthens the party’s resolve to reclaim Osun and restore what he termed purposeful leadership.

Addressing the crowd, Oyetola praised the lawmakers for choosing results over rhetoric and service over stagnation.

He noted that the gathering, held on a day synonymous with love, represented a collective commitment to rescue the state from its current administrative trajectory.

Beyond state politics, Oyetola used the platform to defend the federal government’s economic policies.

He argued that President Tinubu’s bold decisions were necessary to save a national economy that stood on the brink. By endorsing the President for 2027, Oyetola stated that the party aims to consolidate the gains of the Renewed Hope Agenda and secure lasting prosperity for all Nigerians.

With the Osun governorship election fast approaching, the Minister charged party faithful to intensify grassroots mobilization.

He framed the upcoming election as a mission to rebuild infrastructure, empower small businesses, and ensure transparent governance.

Oyetola urged supporters to return to their various wards and polling units with the message that the light of progress has returned to the party.

Echoing this sentiment, State APC Chairman Tajudeen Lawal assured the newcomers of equal opportunities, maintaining that the party’s tradition forbids discrimination based on when a member joined.

Similarly, the APC gubernatorial candidate, Bola Oyebamiji, characterized the influx of PDP leaders as a timely intervention to save Osun from administrative decline promising an inclusive decision-making process where every voice counts.