The political landscape in Ondo State shifted significantly on Tuesday as large numbers of Peoples Democratic Party members from all 18 local government areas defected to the ruling All Progressives Congress.
Among the defectors were members of the National Union of Road Transport Workers, who declared their readiness to work for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s re-election in 2027.
The defectors were formally received at the APC Secretariat in Akure, where the State Chairman, Ade Adetimehin, urged them to immediately return to their various wards to begin mobilising support for the President.
Welcoming the new members, Adetimehin said the APC remained the dominant political force in Ondo State, attributing its growing popularity to President Tinubu’s performance and federal interventions in the region.
“This is a party of victory. In APC, there is no discrimination—no old members, no new members. We are all equal,” he said. “Your performance and capacity will determine your reward.”
Adetimehin highlighted several federal projects ongoing in the state—including road construction and appointments of Ondo indigenes—stressing that the Renewed Hope Agenda was delivering tangible benefits.
The leader of the defectors under the Asiwaju Transport Movement, Ojo Adewole, explained that the group’s decision was driven by the positive impact of federal infrastructure projects, especially road rehabilitation and expansion.
Adewole noted that the Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, played a significant role in encouraging their transition to the APC, describing him as “a true leader.”
According to him, over 1,000 NURTW members across the state joined the ruling party, citing critical road projects such as the Benin–Ilesa Expressway dualisation, Ore–Ondo–Akure road expansion, Akure–Ado Ekiti Expressway, and the coastal highway as key motivations.
“We are transport workers; we understand the value of good roads. President Tinubu is continuing and accelerating projects started under the previous administration. That’s why we are supporting him for a second term,” Adewole stated.
Recent political developments have further weakened the PDP in Ondo State. The only PDP member in the National Assembly from the state, Festus Akingbaso, along with the three remaining PDP lawmakers in the State House of Assembly, also recently defected to the APC—effectively making Ondo a one-party state.
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