Reported by: Ijeoma G | Edited by: Oravbiere Osayomore Promise.
In a significant political realignment ahead of the August 15 governorship election in Osun State, some serving aides of Governor Ademola Adeleke and prominent chieftains of the ruling Accord Party have formally defected to the All Progressives Congress (APC). The defectors were received on Monday at the Ilerioluwa Campaign Office in Ogo-Oluwa, Osogbo, in a ceremony that saw them decorated with the official APC emblem amid cheers from party faithful. The move marks a major boost for the opposition party as it intensifies its campaign to unseat the incumbent governor barely two months before the election.
Among those who crossed the carpet are Azeez Kazeem, Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on the Governor’s Office; Moyoade Lukman, Senior Special Assistant on Market Affairs; Asamo Gbenga, Youth Leader of the Accord Party in Ife Central Local Government Area; Ojuolape Olagbaju, a former House of Representatives aspirant; and Dr. Leye Olagbaju, also a former House of Representatives aspirant for Ife Federal Constituency. The defection of these key figures, particularly those serving in the governor's immediate office, has sent ripples through the state's political landscape and raised questions about the stability of the ruling Accord Party's support base.
Speaking at the event, the Director-General of the APC Governorship Campaign Council in Osun State, Hon. Oluwole Oke, described the development as further evidence that the political tide in Osun is shifting in favour of his party. "I am delighted to welcome these prominent Accord Party members in Osun State, some of whom also served as aides to Governor Ademola Adeleke, and who have voluntarily resolved to join the APC," Oke said. He declared that "the wind of change blowing across Osun State cannot be stopped" and revealed that more aides of Governor Adeleke have already submitted their resignation letters and expressed intention to join the APC in stages. Oke further claimed that even serving commissioners were expected to defect soon. "We have more aides of Governor Ademola Adeleke who are ready to submit their resignations. We even have commissioners who are coming. At the appropriate time, we shall present them to the public," he stated.
The defectors cited various reasons for their decision, with many expressing confidence in the APC governorship candidate, Asiwaju Munirudeen Bola Oyebamiji, popularly known as AMBO. Dr. Leye Olagbaju, speaking on behalf of the new members, said his decision was based on the conviction that Oyebamiji possesses the capacity to drive the growth and development of Osun State. "We will deploy the political structures we have built over the years to support the ambition of Mr. Bola Oyebamiji and, by the grace of God, ensure his victory in the August 15 election. He is capable and possesses the qualities of a prepared leader," Olagbaju stated. Similarly, Asamo Gbenga pledged the support of his followers to the APC candidate.
For Moyoade Lukman, the decision was described as a homecoming. He noted that he had earlier been a member of the APC before leaving for the Peoples Democratic Party, and his return was voluntary. "I have decided to return to my roots and join hands with others to work for the success of AMBO in the forthcoming election," he said. His remarks underscore the fluid nature of political allegiance in Osun State, where party lines have often blurred in the pursuit of electoral advantage.
The defections come against the backdrop of a fiercely contested governorship race. The Accord Party, which Governor Adeleke leads, had previously benefited from a wave of defections from the APC, including former commissioners and aides of former Governor Gboyega Oyetola who dumped the APC for the ruling party. However, the latest movement of Adeleke's own aides to the APC suggests that the political pendulum may be swinging back, complicating the governor's re-election bid. The APC has positioned Oyebamiji as a formidable challenger, and the party's leadership is banking on these defections to build momentum in the weeks leading up to the election.
As the August 15 poll draws nearer, both parties are expected to intensify their campaigns and continue their efforts to woo undecided voters and key political stakeholders. For now, the defection of Adeleke's aides and Accord Party chieftains to the APC has added a fresh layer of intrigue to an election that promises to be one of the most closely watched in the state's history.
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