By Kolawole Olawale, Abeokuta
The All Progressives Congress (APC) leadership in Ilobi-Erinja Ward, Yewa South Local Government Area of Ogun State, alongside the Ilobi-Erinja Development Association, has dismissed reports of a purported defection of members of the party to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), describing the claim as a deliberate misrepresentation of the community’s political position.
The two groups, in a joint statement, declared that no known member of the APC in Ilobi-Erinja Ward had defected to the PDP or any other political party, insisting that the community remained firmly committed to the ruling party.
They expressed anger and displeasure over the purported defection announcement, describing it as a false representation of the political position of Ilobi-Erinja.
According to the statement, the declaration was allegedly made at a location far removed from the ward but was subsequently presented as though it represented the defection of APC members from the community.
The statement specifically stated that Baba Tunde Akinlade was neither a member of the APC in Ilobi-Erinja Ward nor known to the community, arguing that his purported declaration could not be regarded as evidence of a mass defection.
The statement specifically stated that Baba Tunde Akinlade was neither a member of the APC in Ilobi-Erinja Ward nor known to the community, arguing that his purported declaration could not be regarded as evidence of a mass defection.
The APC leaders and the development association maintained that presenting the announcement as the political position of Ilobi-Erinja amounted to manufacturing a false narrative.
They further recalled that Ilobi-Erinja delivered an overwhelming, near 100 per cent vote to the APC in the last election, stressing that the community’s political allegiance remained unchanged.
The statement also attributed the community’s continued support for the APC to development projects and interventions undertaken in the area by the state and federal governments.
Among the projects highlighted were road construction along the Oke-Erinja and Erinja-Ilobi corridors, the ongoing Ilobi-Eredo Road project, electricity infrastructure and transformer interventions, street lighting, educational facilities and agricultural infrastructure, including the Ilobi Farmers’ Market.
They maintained that their political position was not based on inducement but on their assessment of public leadership, established political identity and desire for sustained development.
The statement also challenged the PDP to investigate the circumstances surrounding the purported defection announcement, suggesting that the party might have been misled into believing it had secured the support of Ilobi-Erinja.
“If the PDP has been deceived into believing that it has acquired Ilobi-Erinja through this purported declaration, it should hold accountable those who sold it this political fraud and demand an immediate refund,” the statement said.
The groups urged those responsible for circulating the claim to correct the public record, warning that the alleged misrepresentation of the community’s identity could not confer political legitimacy on the purported defection.
Reaffirming their political allegiance, the APC ward leadership and the Ilobi-Erinja Development Association declared their support for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Governor Dapo Abiodun, Senator Solomon Olamilekan Adeola, popularly known as Yayi, in his governorship ambition, and other APC candidates.
They also pledged to mobilise residents of the community to support the party and work towards securing an overwhelming victory in the forthcoming elections.
The statement called on the media, political stakeholders and the general public to disregard the purported defection announcement, insisting that Ilobi-Erinja remained grateful for the development projects executed in Yewa South, particularly in the ward.
The statement was signed by Mr Olusola Adeoye, Chairman of the Erinja Unit of the APC in Ilobi-Erinja Ward, and Mr Sikiru Odunodu, APC Ward Chairman, Yewa South Local Government Area, Ogun State.
The signatories reiterated that the community remained solidly behind the APC, declaring that no purported defection announcement could alter its political identity.
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