PHOTONEWS: Scores of Ijesa South PDP, LP members defect to APC

Scores of members of the Peoples Democratic Party and the Labour Party chapters from Ijesa South Federal Constituency, Osun State have defected to the All Progressives Congress.

Ijesa South Federal Constituency consists of Ilesa West, Ilesa East, Atakumosa West and Atakumosa East local government areas.

The official defection took place at the residence of the Ijesaland APC leader, Chief Kunle Odeyemi in Ilesa, on Thursday.

The PDP defectors who are known to be loyal to former Osun PDP governorship aspirant, Omooba Dotun Babayemi, said division within the Osun PDP is the reason for exiting the party to APC.

The leaders of the defectors include a grassroot mobilizer and leader of the PDP in Ilesa East LG, Comrd. Victor Ashaolu, a former House of House of Assembly candidate of the Labour Party, Mr Wole Oke, Hon. Mrs. Mulikat Adetunji, Mr. Dagunduro, Mr. Babatunde Ajiboye, Pa Jomo Adejumo, Mr. Adekanmi Fasoranti, among others.

Receiving the defectors, the leader of APC in Ijesaland, Chief Kunle Odeyemi said the defection had further depleted the camp of the PDP as he considered the defection coming at this time as very significant. He commended the new members on their defection, saying the APC had brought lots of dividends of democracy to the people of Osun State.

In his own goodwill message, Speaker of the Osun State 7th House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Timothy Owoeye congratulated the defectors on their new move and assured them that they would be treated equally with those already in the APC. He admonished the defectors and all APC faithfuls to work for the party to ensure victory for the APC in the 2026 elections.

Other Ijesa South APC Leaders that spoke at the occasion included Chief Niyi Oyeleye from Ilesa East, Hon. L. B. Ayeni member 9th National Assembly, and Hon. Femi Kujembola, Osun State APC treasurer.

One would recall that Omooba Dotun Babayemi recently launched a restructuring movement tagged “Atunto” for a better dividend of democracy for Osun people come 2026 election this he charged the people of Osun State to re-strategize towards making Osun state a better place to live.

Thus, the failure of the current PDP administration under the watch of Senator Ademola Adeleke to meet the needs of the populace informed their defection.

Prominent Ijesa South APC Leaders that witnessed the occasion included; Pa. J. A. Oni, Hon. Gboyega Ajeleti, Hon. B. F. Komolafe, Hon. Lanre Balogun, Hon. Akinyele Akintola, Hon. Chief Oyedele Disu, Hon. Olori Abereoje, Hon. Past. Antony Adeboye, Hon. Mrs. Dupe Owoeye a.k.a Omo Aje, Hon. Idowu Falade, Chief Mrs . T. Oshin, Hon. Femi Abimbola, Hon. Felix Olawuni, APC local government chairmen, women leaders, youth leaders, party faithfuls to mention but a few.