Over 500 chieftains and members of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Idanre local government of Ondo state at the weekend dumped the party for All Progressives Congress (APC).

The event, which took place at Depot in Odo-Ode area of the town, was witnessed by members of APC and people of the town.

Most of the defectors were grassroots political leaders from different parts of Idanre Local Government who held sway in their individual communities.

The defection was unique as names of the PDP members who defected were read from a list where their names were compiled and each of them mounted the podium to address the people.

They took turn to appreciate the performances of the state Chairman of APC, Engr. Ade Adetimehin and other representatives of the local government as well as the state governor, Arakunrin Oluwarotimi Akeredolu.

All of them commended and referred to the leadership quality of Adetimehin as one of the main reasons they decided to join APC.

In his address, Adetimehin, APC Chairman in Ondo State who received the defectors, commended them for their courage as he described them as known and experienced grassroots politicians of great repute.

He assured them that no one will be treated as new member in the party, saying they would be treated equally.

Adetimehin, who is from the community, urged them to use their political experience and influence to work for the success of all candidates of APC at the coming general elections.

He declared that the presidential candidate of APC, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu has enviable track records as a good human resources manager, assuring that he would turn the country around when he assumed office as the president.

Adetimehin said: “Today’s event is different. These people are all present here. They are physical, practical. They are tested politicians of note. Among them are former ward chairmen, supervisory councillors, executives of a local government and spokesperson of a former Governorship candidate in the state.

“If 300 people left a political party, it means a lot, and at the grassroots for that matter. Idanre is full of progressive people. I can assure you now that any time, any day, APC will win Idanre Local Government in 2023 general elections.

“So, I am charging everybody to go back to his or her unit and ward to mobilise for APC because all the candidates of APC must win this coming elections.

“Our presidential candidate, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu is a man full of ideas, a man who has the capacity and intellect.

“When you talk of our senatorial candidate, Niyi Adegbonmire, SAN, he’s a youth full of energy and is connected.

What about the House of Reps, Small Alhaji, he has done us proud.

“The candidate for state House of Assembly is a Princess. She has royalty blood flowing in her and everybody is proud of her, Ade Adetimehin the APC Chairman who himself is a native of Idanre reiterated.

“Princess Oluwatosin Ogunlowo, the APC candidate for Idanre Local government, described the event as very interesting and encouraging.

She said: “This has never happened before in Idanre. I want to encourage women to come out and participate in politics as it unfolds in our local government.

“I want to appeal to all of us to troop out on the election days to vote for all candidates of APC from presidential candidate through to House of Assembly.”

Also, the All Progressives Congress (APC), in Sokoto State yesterday received more defectors ahead of the 2023 General Elections in the state.

The latest defection was another set of scores of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) members from Dundaye, Gumburawa and Gidan Bubu districts in Wamakko Local Government Area of the state.

Speaking at the event, Alhaji Maigari Dingyadi, the Minister of Police Affairs, described the development as a success, following the achievements recorded by the APC-led Federal Government.

“The APC administration under the watch of President Muhammadu Buhari has brought positive developmental projects aimed at impacting the lives of people.

“The government had for the past seven and half years continued to roll out sustainable programmes that impacted positively to the lives of the less privileged in the country.

“Therefore, I called on all of you to sustain more support for the victory of APC in order for the party to continue to provide more democratic dividends for our people,” he urged.

Dingyadi further said that those achievements recorded by the government at the center were the reasons why members of other political parties were trooping into the APC across the board.

Receiving the defectors, Alhaji Isa Sadiq-Achida, the state APC Chairman described them as pillars of democracy in the area.

Sadiq-Achida urged the new members to feel free and work for the success of the party in the forthcoming elections in the state.

Earlier, Alhaji Ahmad Aliyu, the APC governorship candidate in the state, solicited the support of the electorate, while assuring to bring back more development for the state.

Aliyu told the gathering that he would follow the footsteps of the APC leader in the state, Sen. Aliyu Wamakko (APC -Sokoto North) and sustain his legacies when he served  was governor for eight years.

Some of the defectors, Alhaji Labaran Gidan-Ruwa, Hajiya Balkisu Dundaye and Malami Mai-Sojoji revealed that they left PDP in the state following its alleged failure to deliver on all the promises made.