Two political aspirants in Ibadan North-East State Constituency II, Hon. Hammed Taoreed Ademola and Hon. Adedapo Ojo, have defected to the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Oyo State ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Ademola, popularly known as Lucky, was the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate for the constituency, while Ojo was an aspirant on the platform of the Accord Party. The PDP’s list of Oyo State House of Assembly candidates published in September included Taoreed Ademola Hammed for Ibadan North-East II.
The duo formally joined the APC on Friday, October 2, 2026, at a declaration ceremony held at a private facility along Old Ife Road, Ibadan, where they were accompanied by hundreds of their supporters.
Speaking at the event, Ademola said he decided to leave the PDP after assessing the political situation ahead of the 2027 election.
He said his assessment convinced him that the APC offered a more viable platform for his political aspirations, adding that his supporters had decided to identify with the party.
Ademola pledged to contribute to the growth of the APC and work in the interest of the party and Nigeria.
Ojo, who had earlier resigned his membership of Accord in July, also announced his decision to join the APC. His resignation from Accord had previously been attributed to concerns over internal democracy and the emergence of parallel aspirants during the party’s primary process.
At the event, Ojo described his experience with Accord as unproductive, saying he and his supporters had subsequently resolved to join the APC.
Receiving the new members, Oyo State APC Chairman, Chief Moses Alake-Adeyemo, assured them of equal opportunities within the party.
Adeyemo urged the defectors to work alongside other APC members to secure the party’s candidates across the state in the 2027 elections.
He described the forthcoming election as an opportunity to chart a new course for the state and the country.
Also speaking, the APC governorship candidate in Oyo State, Senator Sharafadeen Alli, welcomed the new members and pledged fairness to members of the party and the various zones of the state.
Alli said the influx of new members was an indication of growing interest in the APC, while urging party members to intensify preparations for the 2027 elections.
The APC formally unveiled Alli as its governorship candidate in July, alongside Hon. Adesoji Adedeji as his running mate. The party subsequently unveiled its candidates for the 2027 general elections in September.
Alli also outlined some of his proposed programmes if elected governor, including regular payment of salaries and allowances to workers and pensioners, improved working conditions and training for workers.
He promised that his administration would establish a standard Information and Communication Technology (ICT) hub in Ibadan within its first six months and replicate the initiative in Oke-Ogun, Ogbomoso, Oyo and Ibarapa before January 2029.
He further pledged equitable distribution of infrastructure and basic amenities across the state’s zones, as well as the establishment of a general hospital in each of Oyo State’s 33 local government areas.
The event was attended by the APC deputy governorship candidate, Hon. Adesoji Adedeji; Oyo South Senatorial candidate, Hon. Aderemi Oseni, and other party leaders and members.
