Leaders of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Osun State on Saturday intensified political mobilisation ahead of the 2026 governorship election as five National Assembly members defected from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the APC, while the party also endorsed President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for a second term in 2027.
At a rally held at the Nelson Mandela Freedom Park, Osogbo, prominent APC figures including former governor and Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Adegboyega Oyetola; the party’s governorship candidate, Munirudeen Bola Oyebamiji; and the state chairman, Tajudeen Lawal, described the development as a major political turning point in the state.
The defectors include Senators Francis Fadahunsi and Olubiyi Fadeyi, as well as House of Representatives members Wole Oke, Taofeek Ajilesoro and Omirin Olusanya, alongside their supporters.
Speaking at the event, Oyebamiji said the entry of the lawmakers and their supporters into the APC strengthens the party’s grassroots structure and electoral prospects.
He described their decision as “timely and courageous,” noting that it expands the party’s reach and consolidates its chances of reclaiming Osun in 2026.
“Your entry into our party broadens the base of experience, influence and grassroots connection needed to secure victory for the good people of Osun,” he said.
The APC candidate criticised the current administration in the state, alleging declining governance and economic uncertainty, while positioning the APC as a credible alternative focused on “growth, accountability and inclusive development.”
In his address, Oyetola framed the rally as both a reception for defectors and a strategic political statement ahead of future elections.
He said the APC remains the “sure path to prosperity and stability,” linking the party’s direction in Osun to ongoing reforms at the federal level.
According to him, policies under President Tinubu have begun yielding measurable results, including improved foreign exchange stability, increased investment commitments, and expanded social interventions.
“These are measurable achievements. The Renewed Hope Agenda is laying a solid foundation for Nigeria’s rebirth,” he said.
Oyetola added that the endorsement of Tinubu for a second term was necessary to consolidate ongoing reforms and sustain economic recovery efforts.
He also urged party members to intensify grassroots mobilisation, describing unity and coordination as critical to winning both the 2026 governorship and 2027 presidential elections.
On his part, Lawal described the defection of two senators and three House of Representatives members as “unprecedented” in Osun’s political history, saying it signals an imminent change in the state’s leadership.
He argued that the move reflects growing dissatisfaction within the PDP and confidence in the APC’s chances in the next election cycle.
“What we are witnessing today is a signal that the desired change of political leadership in the state is imminent in 2026,” he said.
The APC chairman also called for the integration of the defectors into party structures across constituencies, assuring them of equal opportunities within the party.
Across the speeches, party leaders emphasised unity, grassroots engagement and strategic mobilisation as key to electoral success.
They maintained that the combination of high-profile defections and internal cohesion positions the APC strongly for the August 8, 2026 governorship election in Osun.
