…As Two PDP big wigs decamp to APC

By Michael Ofulue, Osogbo

Two strong leaders of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party, Alhaji Shuaib Oyedokun and former governorship aspirant of the party, Dotun Babayemi, on Friday, dumped the party and formally joined the main opposition All Progressives Congress in the state.

The duo moved to APC alongside multitude of their supporters and loyalists.

The defectors were received into APC in Osogbo yesterday by the National Secretary of the party, Senator Ajibola Basiru, its Osun Chairman, Tajudeen Lawal, former governor of the state and incumbent Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Gboyega Oyetola among others.

Speaking on why he left the PDP, Oyedokun, one of the founding members of the ruling party, said the ideals of the founding fathers of the party have been solely contaminated.

He said since the inception of the administration of Governor Ademola Adeleke, the leader of the party in the state, the principle of fairness and sense of belonging which the party is known for has been abandoned.

According to Oyedokun, Osun PDP has been infected by cheaters and that the old system of carrying everyone along in the scheme of things is lacking in the party.

Revealing that he was instrumental to the defection of Babayemi, the soon-to-be nonagenarian argued that the former governorship aspirant who contested the ticket of the party with Adeleke was treated unfairly in the party.

In his remarks after the flags of the APC were handed over to him and Oyedokun, Babayemi said he joined the opposition party with his entire political network and members of his Atunto group.

He noted that, “Since Oyetola left governance, things have been terrible in Osun,” adding that, “We need to strive to ensure that APC government returns to Osun. From today, it is APC meeting from ward to local councils and to the state level.”

Welcoming the new members, Basiru asked them not to behave like strangers, saying, “I welcome you into our party on behalf of the National Working Committee. Don’t regard yourselves as strangers. Those who are secretly plotting against the party should desist. Those festering embers of discord, should be warned.”

Speaking, Oyetola urged APC members not to treat the defectors as newcomers, saying, “Our return to power in 2026 in Osun will be easy.”