2027: Oyo SDP Chieftains Dump Party, Join APC Ahead of General Election

The Social Democratic Party, SDP, has suffered a major defection in Oyo State after several of its prominent members in Oluyole Local Government Area crossed over to the All Progressives Congress, APC.

Those who defected include the SDP’s 2023 candidate for Oluyole State Constituency, Mogaji Saheed Oyewale, and the party’s chairmanship candidate in the 2024 local government election, David Arowolo.

Also among the defectors are the former SDP Chairman in Oluyole Local Government Area, Ganiyu Lawal, Secretary Adetunji Adewale, Women Leader Taiwo Lasisi, Youth Leader Muritala Jeje and Public Relations Officer Afeez Agbongbon.

The move also involved local government and ward executive committee members representing all 10 electoral wards in Oluyole Local Government Area, further widening the scale of the defection.

The former SDP members announced their decision during a visit to the APC state secretariat in Ibadan, Oyo State capital, on Tuesday. They were received by the state APC Chairman, Chief Moses Adeyemo.

Oyewale, who led the defectors, said their decision was driven by their desire to support President Bola Tinubu and contribute to what he described as efforts to build a better Nigeria.

“We decided to join the APC because we appreciate the good work of President Tinubu and, as patriots, we cannot afford to stay away when we can be part of the success story,” Oyewale said.

He also predicted that more influential SDP members would follow their lead in the coming weeks, claiming that “virtually all the people who matter in the SDP” would eventually join the APC.

Oyewale added that the defectors would work with their new party ahead of the 2027 general elections, saying they were confident the APC would achieve a major victory