Members of the Allied Peoples Movement (APM) and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) have defected to the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Oluyole Local Government Area of Oyo State.

The defection took place on Saturday in Ward 9 and was led by leaders of the two opposition parties.

The new members were formally received into the APC at the Olomi headquarters of the PBAT-KO Grassroots Movement.

The movement was founded by Alhaji Kehinde Olaosebikan, a former chairman of Oluyole Local Government and an aspirant for the Oluyole Federal Constituency.

Receiving the defectors, the APC Chairman in Oluyole, Mr Dotun Oladipupo, assured them of full recognition within the party’s structure.

He praised Olaosebikan for his commitment and loyalty to the APC, especially after he failed to secure the party’s ticket to contest the House of Representatives election.

Oladipupo said Olaosebikan’s ability to attract members of opposition parties to the APC showed his political strength and popularity in Oluyole.

“As a party, we are deeply impressed by the actions of Alhaji Kehinde Olaosebikan, who has successfully won over members of rival parties despite not being on the ballot himself.

“This confirms his political strength and popularity in Oluyole; only a politician who is truly loved and trusted can win followers for the party after a setback in securing a ticket,” he said.

The APC chairman said Olaosebikan had also shown maturity by accepting the party’s decisions without rancour in 2019, 2023 and the current political cycle.

He added that Olaosebikan’s commitment to the peace and progress of the party would be rewarded in the future.

“With his priority placed firmly on the peace and progress of the party, he will undoubtedly reap bountiful rewards from the APC in the near future,” Oladipupo said.

Speaking on behalf of the defectors, the APM leader in Ward 9, Chief Adeolu Adesola, commended Olaosebikan for his leadership.

“We were formerly in darkness, but we want to appreciate our leader, Mr Kehinde Olaosebikan, for taking us out of darkness and into the light.

“He has been our great leader and a good egbon for a long time. He is always approachable, caring, trustworthy, dependable, and a man of the people.

“Politics aside, Call me Kenny is universally loved and respected across Oluyole and beyond,” Adesola said.

Olaosebikan, while reacting to the defection, said Nigeria was gradually regaining its leadership position in Africa and beyond under the administration of President Bola Tinubu.

He described Tinubu as the best choice among the available presidential options and said the President deserved to win convincingly.

“Looking at his antecedents in Lagos, we are assured that he will leave Nigeria far better than he met it.

“Just as he did in Lagos, he will hand over power to the best and most qualified person, who, in the spirit of equity, should come from the North.

“After his tenure, Tinubu handed Lagos State over to Raji Fashola. Years later, Lagos remains the model for sustainable development in Nigeria,” Olaosebikan said.

(NAN)