The All Progressive Congress (APC) in Ogun state has received to its fold the running mate to Ladi Adebutu, governorship candidate of the People’s Democratic Party during the 2023 gubernatorial election in Ogun state, Hon. Abdulkabir Akinlade. 

The former PDP chairman in the state, Hon. Sikirulai Ogundele and other supporters were also received at the party secretariat, in Abeokuta, Thursday.

Akinlade, a former member of the House of Representatives, in a statement had explained that he left PDP following a “persistent and unresolved internal crisis” within the state chapter of the PDP.

He described the defection as a homecoming, adding that “From where we were coming, once our leader speaks, that is all, he has said it all. That means that we have had our meetings at home, we are here as a team, and we are speaking with a voice. 

“In addition, the PDP family and the APM family that I led out of this party about six years ago are all fully back in the party. We have sat down to work it together, we have met with Mr Governor and we have discussed  and agreed that we are all moving back home en masse, not one person will be left behind by the grace of God,” he said.

Receiving the defectors, the APC chairman, Yemi Sanusi, described the decision as a homecoming for true progressives.

“You are not defecting, you are returning home. Politics is local, so, I urge you to go back to your wards and work with your people. If anyone gives you issues, let us know, and we will resolve it immediately,” Sanusi stated.

Meanwhile, the former chairman of the PDP, Sikirulai Ogundele, in his remarks, stated that with the defection, one-third of those in PDP have moved to the ruling party. 

Ogundele who said he was the structural leader of the PDP in the state, emphasised that only a meagre portion of the entire party may stay back after his move. 

“When the drum rhythm changes, the dance steps must change. In Nigeria today the drum sound has changed and is the same in Ogun state. 

“For a political strategist who is a veteran in this business, such a person must be forward-thinking and we have given this our thought and we have thought about it so rightly. We are not just decamping or defecting, but we are moving the entire structure of the PDP to the ruling party,” he said.