Distinguished Senator Francis Adenigba Fadahunsi and four other members of the National Assembly on Saturday formally defected from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Osun State, alongside thousands of their supporters.
The defectors included Senator Olubiyi Fadeyi (Osun Central), Omirin Olusanya (Ijesa South Federal Constituency), Wole Oke (Ijesa North Federal Constituency), and Taofeek Ajilesoro (Ife Central Federal Constituency).
They were formally received into the APC by party leaders, officials, and supporters at a grand reception held in Osogbo, the Osun State capital.
Nigeria’s Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Gboyega Oyetola, described the defection as a major boost for the party, stressing that the APC remains an inclusive political family.
“We are gathered not just to receive new members but to affirm a shared conviction that the sure path to prosperity, stability, and visionary leadership lies in the APC,” Oyetola said.
“In the APC, there are no strangers. We are one united family. Your arrival strengthens our resolve to reclaim Osun and restore dignity to governance.”
He also praised the achievements of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, noting that his administration had laid a solid foundation for national renewal and deserved a second term in 2027.
Oyetola urged party members to intensify grassroots mobilisation ahead of the August 8, 2026 governorship election in the state.
Osun APC Chairman, Tajudeen Lawal, said the influx of prominent lawmakers would strengthen the party’s structure and enhance its chances in both the 2026 governorship election and the 2027 general elections.
He assured the new entrants of equal opportunities within the party, stressing that there would be no discrimination regardless of when members joined.
Similarly, the APC governorship candidate, Bola Oyebamiji, called for unity among party stakeholders.
“As we look toward the 2026 and 2027 elections, unity within our ranks is non-negotiable,” Oyebamiji said, adding that collective action was necessary to return the state to a path of growth, accountability, and inclusive development.
Speaking on behalf of the defectors, Senator Fadahunsi expressed gratitude to the people of Osun East for their support during his two terms in the Senate, describing the move as a carefully considered decision taken in the interest of the state.
He said the lawmakers chose to leave the PDP after extensive reflection, citing the need for fair political partnership and stronger representation for their constituencies.
According to him, the decision was a collective one involving political stakeholders and party executives across the state.
“Leadership sometimes demands difficult decisions in the service of higher principles and goals,” Fadahunsi stated. “Today, after deep reflection, we have decided to leave the PDP and officially join the APC.”
He maintained that the move was not driven by resentment but by the desire to align with a platform that better represents regional interests and supports developmental priorities.
Fadahunsi highlighted several federal projects and initiatives he attributed to the current administration, including road infrastructure, educational institutions, healthcare interventions, and constituency development programmes across Osun State.
He described President Tinubu as a “partner in purpose,” whose policies, he said, aim to expand economic opportunities, strengthen grassroots governance, and improve access to healthcare and education.
The senator added that the defection signaled a renewed political direction aimed at advancing the Ife/Ijesa development agenda and accelerating socio-economic progress across the state.
The mass defection is widely seen as a significant political development ahead of the 2026 Osun governorship election, potentially reshaping party alignments and electoral dynamics in the state.
