Ahead of the November 16 governorship election in Ondo State, several members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) have defected to the Social Democratic Party (SDP). The defectors officially joined the SDP at a rally held at the party’s secretariat in Akure, where they symbolically dropped their APC membership cards and received SDP ones.

Femi Ikoyi, the leader of the defectors, criticized the APC for what he described as unfair treatment. Ikoyi, who previously led a significant faction within the APC known as the People’s Democratic Movement (PDM), claimed that the SDP’s candidate, Otunba Bamidele Akingboye, is favored in Abuja and expressed confidence in the party’s ability to win the election.

“I’m bringing my PDM group from the APC to the SDP. We believe the SDP candidate is the favored choice in Abuja. Our goal is to win the election. The local APC treatment has been discouraging, which is why we are moving to SDP. I am committed to delivering Akingboye,” Ikoyi said.

Upon welcoming the new members, Gbenga Akinbunmi, Chairman of Ondo SDP, promised fair treatment and integration within the party. The SDP gubernatorial candidate also praised the defectors, assuring that his administration would focus on inclusive governance if elected.

In related news, former lawmaker Senator Daniel Bwala has accused Pastor Paul Enenche, Senior Pastor of the Dunamis International Gospel Centre, of attempting to alter historical narratives.