The opposition in Ondo State has suffered another blow after a former House of Assembly Minority Leader and more than 100 PDP members in Akoko North‑East dumped the party for the All Progressives Congress.
Rasheed Elegbeleye, who represented Akoko North‑East in the state legislature between 2019 and 2023, led the latest wave of defectors into the APC.
They were received on Wednesday, December 24, at Ikare Akoko by the Ondo State APC chairman, Ade Adetimehin.
Adetimehin welcomed the move as a boost for the ruling party and framed it as part of a broader realignment in favour of the APC.
“Hon. Elegbeleye’s decision to join the winning team is timely and strategic. Our great party, the APC, remains the natural home for progressives, committed to people-oriented governance, inclusive leadership, and sustainable development.
“I want to assure our new members that they will be given equal opportunities and full integration into the party structure.
“Also, I want to encourage all party faithful to remain steadfast in solidarity with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, and Ondo will deliver more than a million votes for Asiwaju’s re-election bid come 2027,” he said.
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In his remarks, Elegbeleye said he and his supporters were convinced the APC offered a more viable platform.
“Our decision to join the APC was driven by our belief in the party’s progressive ideals, strong leadership and commitment to delivering good governance to the people.
“As a loyal party man, I will work tirelessly with party members to advance the APC’s vision at all levels.
“With our defection, there is no opposition in this local government anymore as we have now moved en masse to the progressive fold,” he boasted.
He also praised Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa, Minister of Interior Olubunmi Tunji‑Ojo and other APC leaders, crediting them with providing direction and stability for the party in Ondo.
The defection from Akoko North‑East follows a broader collapse of PDP structures in the state.
All remaining PDP members in the Ondo State House of Assembly have already crossed to the APC, and Festus Akingbaso, the only PDP member from the state in the House of Representatives, has also switched camps.
With the latest realignments, APC politicians now occupy every elective office in Ondo State, effectively turning it into a one‑party territory ahead of future elections.