Yewa South Not for Sale, APC Fires Back at PDP Over Alleged Defection, Lists Projects, Backs Yayi’s Ogun Governorship Ambition

  

.....Party challenges opposition to provide verifiable evidence of mass defection, highlights road, electricity, education and agricultural interventions across Ilobi, Erinja, Eredo and surrounding communities

The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Yewa South Local Government Area of Ogun State has pushed back against claims by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) that a mass defection of APC members took place in Ilobi Erinja Ward on Tuesday, October 6, 2026, describing the report as an attempt to create an impression of widespread political realignment without sufficient evidence.

The APC supporters, while acknowledging the right of political parties to publicise their activities, argued that the alleged defection of a group of individuals should not be interpreted as the collective decision of residents across Ilobi, Erinja, Eredo, Ilori and the wider Yewa South community.

In a statement addressing the controversy, the APC supporters maintained that the political future of Yewa South and the broader Ogun West Senatorial District could not be determined by press releases or campaign publicity, insisting that claims of mass defection should be supported by credible and independently verifiable evidence.

They challenged the PDP to clarify the number of people involved in the reported defection, their identities, their polling units and the basis for presenting the gathering as evidence of a broader rejection of the APC in the area.

According to the supporters, while individuals have the democratic right to change political parties, such decisions should not automatically be presented as evidence that an entire community has abandoned its existing political affiliation.

“Yewa South is bigger than a political press release, and the future of Ogun West cannot be determined by headlines designed to create an impression of political dominance without independently verifiable evidence,” the statement said.

The APC supporters stressed that the controversy should be resolved through facts and grassroots verification rather than competing political narratives.

APC Points to Development Projects Across Yewa South

Beyond challenging the PDP's account of the alleged defection, the APC supporters highlighted several infrastructure, educational, electricity and agricultural interventions which they attributed to the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the Ogun State Government led by Governor Dapo Abiodun and the representation of Senator Solomon Olamilekan Adeola, popularly known as Yayi.

They argued that the projects and interventions cited across the communities provided a basis for assessing political representation and the delivery of public services, while acknowledging that the actual status and benefits of the projects should be established through proper documentation.

Among the projects highlighted was the construction of the Police Secondary School in Erinja, which the supporters described as an important educational and security-related development with the potential to expand learning opportunities and strengthen institutional presence in the community.

They also identified the Erinja Police Academy project as another intervention associated with the area's development, calling for sustained attention to infrastructure that could improve educational opportunities and community security.

On road infrastructure, the supporters pointed to projects covering Oke Erinja and the Erinja–Ilobi corridor, which they attributed to Governor Abiodun's administration.

They also cited the ongoing construction of the Ilobi–Eredo Road, including drainage works, as an intervention expected to improve movement between communities, facilitate commercial activities and strengthen connectivity.

The supporters maintained that improved road networks remained essential to the economic development of Yewa South, particularly for residents whose livelihoods depend on trading, farming and the movement of goods and services.

They further listed electricity infrastructure, including the reported donation of 500KVA transformers to Oke Erinja, Erinja and Ilobi, among the interventions credited to Senator Yayi by his supporters.

According to them, access to reliable electricity remains crucial to households, small businesses, artisans and commercial operators seeking to reduce operating difficulties and improve productivity.

Another project mentioned was a block of six classrooms intended to serve primary and secondary education needs in the Ilobi and Erinja axis.

The supporters also highlighted the Ilobi Farmers' Market, which they attributed to Senator Yayi, describing it as a project with the potential to support agricultural trade, improve market access for farmers and stimulate economic activity.

They added that the strategic location of Ilobi and neighbouring communities along the Sokoto–Badagry Expressway corridor could provide opportunities for improved connectivity and commerce.

However, the supporters acknowledged that the projects should be assessed according to their documented status, actual delivery and measurable benefits to residents.

They challenged the PDP to present its own development scorecard for Yewa South, asking the opposition party to explain the specific policies and projects it would pursue to address road infrastructure, electricity supply, education, employment and agricultural development.

The APC supporters insisted that residents deserved concrete proposals and verifiable results rather than political theatrics.

‘The PDP Cannot Claim a Community by Announcement’

The APC supporters also cautioned against interpreting the reported defection ceremony as evidence that the wider Yewa South electorate had shifted its allegiance to the PDP.

They argued that the description of an event as a “mass defection” did not, on its own, establish the number of people involved or demonstrate that the broader community had withdrawn its support for the APC.

The statement emphasised that the people of Ilobi, Erinja, Eredo and Ilori were not the property of any political party and should be free to make independent decisions about their political affiliations.

It further noted that if individuals had chosen to join the PDP, their decision should be respected as part of the democratic process.

Nevertheless, the supporters maintained that such a development should not be exaggerated into a declaration that an entire local government area or senatorial district had changed political allegiance.

They also cautioned against counter-allegations concerning the identities or residential status of the reported defectors, arguing that any such claims should be supported by evidence.

According to them, political parties should prioritise the establishment of facts rather than engage in unsupported accusations.

APC Challenges PDP to Present Alternative Development Agenda

The controversy has also brought renewed attention to demands for improved infrastructure and employment opportunities in Yewa South.

The APC supporters referred to reported appeals attributed to Akinlade Babatunde concerning the need for better roads and employment opportunities in Ilobi and Erinja.

They described these concerns as legitimate issues that should receive attention regardless of party affiliation.

According to the statement, residents of the area deserve functional roads, reliable electricity, quality education, employment opportunities and an improved economic environment.

However, the supporters argued that identifying community challenges was only the first step towards addressing them, insisting that political parties and aspirants should present credible, costed and achievable plans.

They challenged the PDP to explain how it would finance its proposed interventions, implement them and measure its performance if entrusted with public office.

At the same time, they acknowledged that the APC also had a responsibility to demonstrate which projects had been completed, which remained ongoing and what additional commitments would be delivered.

“Yewa South needs measurable development, not a contest in political exaggeration,” the statement declared.

The supporters said public accountability should remain central to political engagement in the area, adding that communities should be able to assess their representatives through tangible results rather than campaign promises alone.

Yayi's Governorship Ambition Gains Support Among APC Loyalists

The statement also reaffirmed the position of the APC supporters backing Senator Solomon Olamilekan Adeola, popularly known as Yayi, for the 2027 Ogun State governorship election.

The senator, who represents Ogun West Senatorial District, has attracted support from party loyalists who believe his political ambition offers an opportunity to strengthen the development agenda of the district.

The supporters argued that the projects and interventions attributed to him should form part of the assessment of his public service record, particularly in communities where residents have raised concerns about electricity, roads, education and economic opportunities.

They also expressed continued support for President Tinubu and acknowledged the contributions attributed to Governor Abiodun's administration.

For the supporters, the Ogun West agenda should go beyond political slogans and focus on infrastructure development, job creation, educational opportunities and sustained attention to communities across Yewa South.

They nevertheless acknowledged that political support must be earned through accountability, credible plans and demonstrable results.

The statement stressed that no aspirant should regard public support as an entitlement based solely on party membership, insisting that voters should ultimately determine their preferred candidates through the democratic process.

The APC's task, the supporters said, was to consolidate its grassroots structures, communicate its record with verifiable evidence, address outstanding community concerns and convince voters through performance.

Oke Erinja, Eredo Electricity Intervention Draws Attention

A major aspect of the statement focused on the longstanding electricity challenges reportedly experienced by residents of Oke Erinja and Eredo.

According to local accounts cited by the APC supporters, the communities have endured persistent electricity difficulties over the years, affecting household comfort, commercial activities and the operations of small businesses.

The supporters claimed that Senator Yayi had recently intervened with an investment reportedly approaching ₦100 million to address the electricity problem and improve power supply in the affected communities.

They described the reported intervention as significant, given the potential impact of reliable electricity on local businesses, household living conditions and economic activities.

The supporters said the intervention demonstrated why political debates in the area should focus more on practical solutions to longstanding community problems than on claims of defections.

However, they acknowledged the importance of independently documenting the reported investment, including its funding, scope, implementation status and expected outcomes.

They maintained that the ultimate measure of the intervention would be whether reliable electricity was restored and residents experienced sustained improvements in their daily lives.

The supporters added that communities affected by prolonged electricity challenges deserved transparent information about the work being undertaken and the expected results.

They said lasting solutions to electricity problems would provide more meaningful evidence of effective representation than political arguments alone.

Political Publicity Does Not Guarantee Electoral Victory

The APC supporters further warned the PDP against interpreting the reported defection ceremony as a definitive indication of electoral victory in Yewa South.

They argued that political momentum could not be established through headlines alone, noting that a party's actual strength would ultimately be tested by credible grassroots support and the choices made by voters at the ballot box.

According to the statement, the PDP should demonstrate its claimed growing influence through verifiable evidence and a convincing programme for the people.

Similarly, the APC was urged to substantiate its claims of development with documented projects, transparent implementation records and measurable benefits to communities.

The supporters said neither political party should assume that it enjoyed an automatic monopoly over the loyalty of residents.

They called for a political atmosphere in which competing parties could present their records, explain their policies and seek public support without resorting to intimidation, insults or unsupported allegations.

The statement also acknowledged that neither a reported defection nor a list of development projects, standing alone, could conclusively determine the political position of the entire community.

Rather, it argued that both claims should be subjected to evidence, public scrutiny and democratic choice.

Residents Urged to Focus on Facts and Accountability

Reaffirming their support for President Tinubu and Senator Yayi's governorship ambition, the APC supporters maintained that ongoing and completed development interventions in Yewa South deserved recognition, while insisting that outstanding community needs must continue to receive attention.

They called on political stakeholders to focus on verifiable facts, concrete projects and credible commitments that could improve the lives of residents in Ilobi, Erinja, Eredo, Ilori and surrounding communities.

The supporters said the future of the area should not be determined by the publicity strategy of any political party, stressing that residents must retain the freedom to assess political claims independently and decide who deserves their support.

They urged the PDP to substantiate its claims concerning the reported defection and challenged the APC to continue providing evidence of its development record.

The statement concluded that the political contest in Yewa South should be driven by development, accountability and respect for the democratic will of the people.

“Yewa South is bigger than political propaganda. The Ogun West agenda must be built on facts, development and the democratic will of the people,” the supporters declared.

As political activities ahead of the 2027 elections gather momentum, the emerging debate in Yewa South is whether competing parties can move beyond claims of defections and political dominance to demonstrate, with verifiable evidence, how their policies and interventions will deliver lasting benefits to the people.