A Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate, an Accord Party aspirant and about 3,000 other politicians have defected to the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Oyo State ahead of the 2027 governorship election.
Among the defectors was Ademola, popularly known as Lucky, who said his decision to leave the PDP followed a careful assessment of the state’s political landscape and the prospects of the parties ahead of the next general election. 
Speaking during the defection ceremony, Ademola described the APC as the party with the strongest political prospects in Oyo State.
“I did my due diligence and realised that any ticket outside the APC is a mere tissue paper that cannot take a candidate anywhere in 2027.
“We are here in our hundreds to formally join the APC, and we promise to do our best in the interest of the progressive party and our dear country, Nigeria,” he said.
Also joining the APC was Ojo, who had been seeking the Accord Party’s ticket in the same constituency.
Ojo said his decision to abandon Accord followed what he described as unsuccessful efforts to establish the party as a credible political alternative in the state.
According to him, the group had invested considerable time, energy and resources in the party before concluding that joining the APC offered a more promising political platform.
“We thought about making Accord a credible alternative in the state, but we later realised that the APC was far ahead of other parties.
“We wasted our time, energy and resources on an unproductive exercise. We later realised it wasn’t worth it, so we decided to pitch our tent with the progressive party,” Ojo said.
The defectors were formally received by the Oyo State APC Chairman, Chief Moses Alake-Adeyemo, who assured them of equal opportunities and fair treatment within the party.
The ceremony was attended by the APC deputy governorship candidate, Adesoji Adedeji, the party’s Oyo South Senatorial candidate, Aderemi Oseni, and other prominent party leaders.
The mass defection comes as political parties intensify efforts to strengthen their structures and build support ahead of the 2027 elections in Oyo State.
