Ondo PDP Hit By Massive Defection Wave As Transport Union Leaders Join Ruling APC

According to Ireporter Online, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Ondo State experienced a significant blow on Tuesday following the defection of more than 1,000 of its members across all 18 local government areas to the All Progressives Congress (APC). The group, comprising mainly leaders of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW), was officially welcomed into the ruling party at the APC state secretariat in Akure.

APC state chairman, Ade Adetimehin, who received the defectors, encouraged them to immediately return to their various wards and commence grassroots mobilisation ahead of the 2027 presidential election. He attributed the steady rise in new party memberships to President Bola Tinubu’s performance, particularly in the area of infrastructure development.

Adetimehin assured the new entrants of equal treatment within the party, noting that the APC rewards commitment and hard work. He maintained that the president’s ongoing projects and appointments had further strengthened the party’s presence in the state.

Speaking on behalf of the defectors, union leader Ojo Adewole said their decision to dump the PDP for the APC stemmed largely from President Tinubu’s continuation of key road projects and the influence of the Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo. He explained that transport workers directly feel the impact of road development more than any other group.

Adewole praised several ongoing projects, including the dualisation of the Benin–Ilesa Expressway, the expansion of the Ore–Ondo–Akure route, and the coastal highway initiative, noting that these developments have significantly improved transportation efficiency. He added that Minister Tunji-Ojo’s dedication to the state further boosted their confidence in aligning with the APC.

The defectors pledged unwavering commitment to the ruling party and vowed to mobilise extensively to ensure a convincing victory for President Tinubu in the 2027 polls. The APC leadership described the mass defection as a strong indication of the party’s expanding influence in Ondo State politics.