Ondo State governor, Lucky Aiyedatiwa, has said that those flouting the coalition to unseat President Bola Tinubu in the 2027 general elections are day dreamers and unserious politicians who have no better plans for the country.

Speaking on Monday while receiving Hon. Dayo Awude, a former deputy governorship candidate of the Labour Party (LP), into the fold of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Akure, Aiyedatiwa declared that there is no room for the coalition of the opposition figures in Ondo.

The governor said that the governing APC remained the sole rallying force for credible politicians in the state ahead of the 2027 general election.

?In Ondo State, there is no room for coalition. It is one APC. People join political parties for different reasons, but the interest of the party must always supersede every other interest, and for us in the APC, that interest is to retain power,? he said.

Aiyedatiwa lauded the defectors, led by Awude under the Sunshine Grassroots Network (SGN), saying they have made the right decision ahead of the general election to join the APC.

He told the defectors to begin grassroots mobilisation in earnestly for the party ahead of the general elections, saying the APC must retain power at the federal and states levels.

?You have made the right decision. This is the right place to be because the utmost interest for any political party is to be in power. For us in APC, we want to retain power, and we must do everything that is needed to retain the power.

?We acknowledge that you have decided to join us. Your coming will be rewarded. As you can see, the dividends of good governance are showing itself under the leadership of President Tinubu and i as your governor in the state,? he said.

While likened the party?s confidence to ?the evidence of good governance? under President Bola Tinubu and his own administration, the governor added that the latest wave of defections to the APC will deliver greater numbers? of votes for the party in the election.

?Our declaration for Asiwaju is that Ondo State is for Tinubu in 2027. The whole of Ondo state is for Tinubu come 2027, and to realise that, you have decided to join us. We know winning Ondo state is not an issue but to have overwhelming votes, and you are the evidence of those votes.?

Awude, who ran alongside LP?s governorship candidate, Sola Ebiseeni in 2023, said he joined the APC to add value, adding that he was willing to support President Tinubu and governor Aiyedatiwa?s developmental agenda.

Ade Adetimehin, the state chairman of the APC, who welcomed the decampees, urged them to strengthen the party from the grassroots.

He also urged them to begin canvassing votes for the party starting their units and wards levels.

The latest defection marks a blow to the LP?s influence, especially in Ondo state and its 2023 presidential candidate, Peter Obi, as political realignment intensifies ahead of the 2027 general election.

Obi had joined Atiku Abubakar, former presidential candidate of the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), and the former minister of Transport, Rotimi Amaechi to form the coalition of opposition figures in the African Democratic Congress (ADC). (The Nation)

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