By Olatunde Ajayi
Iseyin, Oyo State – January 7, 2026
In a significant political realignment with major implications for the 2027 general elections, the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Oyo State has formally absorbed a substantial bloc of defectors, including a prominent senator, from three rival parties. The move signals a dramatic shift in the state’s political calculus and represents a major consolidation effort by the ruling party at the national level.
The event, held in Iseyin as part of a federal constituency tour, saw leaders of the Oyo APC, led by former gubernatorial candidate Senator Teslim Folarin and State Chairman Mr. Olayide Abas, welcome Senator Hosea Agboola alongside members drawn from all 33 Local Government Areas who formerly belonged to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Social Democratic Party (SDP), and African Democratic Congress (ADC).
Strategic Significance and Electoral Implications
This mass defection is more than a routine political movement; it is a strategic coup. Senator Agboola’s crossover is particularly noteworthy, as it involves a sitting senator shifting allegiance—a move that often signals deeper discontent within the opposition and can influence voter perception and grassroots structures. The inclusion of members from three different parties suggests a coordinated effort to create a “big tent” APC in Oyo State, effectively narrowing the field for the opposition and pooling anti-incumbent sentiments under one banner. For the 2027 elections, this strengthens the APC’s grassroots network, provides access to rival party strategies, and potentially secures new voting blocs.
Endorsement of Tinubu’s Agenda and Party Unity
In his address, Senator Teslim Folarin framed the defection as a direct endorsement of President Bola Tinubu’s leadership and his Renewed Hope Agenda. “The APC remains the most credible platform for inclusive governance and sustainable national development,” Folarin stated. This rhetoric is central to the party’s national narrative, aiming to translate federal power into state-level gains. Crucially, Folarin assured the new members of full integration, revealing that internal party disputes have been resolved to pave the way for unified grassroots mobilisation. This is a critical step, as internal wrangling has historically plagued the Oyo APC; demonstrating unity was essential to convincingly receive defectors.
Minister of Power, Chief Adebayo Adelabu, labeled the decision “timely and courageous,
