Over 1,000 members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) across the 18 local government areas of Ondo State on Tuesday defected to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).

The defectors, largely drawn from the state chapter of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW), said they were leaving the PDP due to dissatisfaction with the party and to support President Bola Tinubu’s re-election bid ahead of the 2027 presidential election.

Speaking while receiving the new members at the APC Secretariat in Akure, the state chairman of the party, Engr. Ade Adetimehin, welcomed the defectors and urged them to immediately return to their various wards to begin grassroots mobilisation for the president.

Adetimehin declared that the APC currently faces no real opposition in Ondo State, attributing the increasing influx of members to President Tinubu’s performance.

He said, “I want to welcome you to our great party. This is the party of victory. In APC, we don’t discriminate; there are no old or new members, everyone is equal.

“Go back to your respective wards and local governments and work. Your capacity in the party will determine your reward. President Tinubu has done well in this state.

“His Renewed Hope initiative is favouring us. Our people are getting appointments, and new road projects have commenced across Ondo State. We must give him a landslide victory here.”

The leader of the defectors under the Asiwaju Transport Movement, Mr. Ojo Adewole, said their decision to join the APC was inspired by President Tinubu’s performance and the leadership of the Minister of Interior, Hon. Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo.

“We were encouraged by our Minister, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, and we will not disappoint him or the party.

“We are NURTW members; we know the importance of good roads. The continuation of road projects started under the Buhari administration shows that President Tinubu is committed.

“The dualization of the Benin–Ilesa Expressway, the Ore–Ondo–Akure road expansion, the Akure–Ado Ekiti Expressway, and the ongoing coastal highway are making our work easier. These are part of the reasons we joined the APC to support the President for a second term.”

The defection comes weeks after the only PDP member from the state in the National Assembly, Mr. Festus Akingbaso, and the three remaining PDP members in the state House of Assembly dumped the party for the APC leaving Ondo State effectively a one-party state. (Nigerian Tribune)