The Osun State chapter of the All Progressives Congress on Saturday, 14th February,2026 staged a major political rally at the Nelson Mandela Freedom Park, formally welcoming five members of the National Assembly who defected from the Peoples Democratic Party and simultaneously endorsing President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for a second term in the 2027 presidential election.
The event, described by party leaders as “epoch-making,” also served as a mobilisation ground for the APC’s governorship ambition ahead of the August 8, 2026 Osun governorship poll.
Speaking at the gathering, Osun APC Chairman, Tajudeen Lawal, said the defection of two senators and three members of the House of Representatives signaled a looming political shift in the state.
According to him, the move demonstrates growing confidence in the APC and dissatisfaction within the ruling party in Osun.
“What we are witnessing today is almost unprecedented in our political history. Distinguished federal lawmakers are joining the progressive family because they recognize the direction the state and the country must take,” he said.
Lawal described the defectors as “goal getters,” insisting their entry would strengthen the party’s chances in both the 2026 governorship and 2027 presidential elections.
He also congratulated the lawmakers for what he called a “timely political decision,” adding that their contributions had already begun to boost the party’s structure across constituencies.
The APC chairman took a swipe at the incumbent state administration, alleging a reversal of developmental gains recorded in previous years and predicting a change of leadership in the next election cycle.
He urged party members across the state to integrate the new entrants without discrimination, assuring them of equal access to opportunities within the party regardless of when they joined.
A major highlight of the event was the official endorsement of President Tinubu for a second term. According to Lawal, continuity of the President’s “Renewed Hope Agenda” is highly imperative as he endorsed President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for re-election in 2027.
“There cannot be a better time than now to support the re-election of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for the continuation of transformative programmes across the country,” he stated.
Party leaders and supporters at the rally pledged to work collectively to secure victory for the APC in both the Osun governorship election and the 2027 presidential poll.
