The Osun State Chapter of the All Progressives Congress revealed a committee on Wednesday to plan an appropriate formal switch event for Mr Dotun Babayemi and Dr Akin Ogunbiyi, as well as their followers.
Ogunbiyi vied for the 2018 governorship ticket of the Peoples Democratic Party but lost to Senator Ademola Adeleke, who was then beaten at the polls by the APC candidate, Adegboyega Oyetola.
Ogunbiyi was one of the candidates for the PDP governorship ticket in 2022 but withdrew, alleging bias from the party's National Working Committee.
Afterward, he ran in the election under the Accord Party.
However, Babayemi and his supporters conducted a separate governorship primary in which he emerged as the PDP factional candidate.
The Supreme Court later affirmed that the incumbent governor, Adeleke, was the legitimately elected PDP candidate in the election, ending the disagreement.
Ogunbiyi switched to the APC in July 2023, but Babayemi has not officially announced his move from the PDP.
Meanwhile, the spokesperson for Babayemi Campaign Organisation, Mr Kayode Oladeji, when asked to confirm his principal’s defection, simply said, “It is an evolving development.”
Nonetheless, a statement from Osun APC chairman, Mr Tajudeen Lawal, in Osogbo identified Mr Debo Badru as the chairman of the 12-member defection committee, while Mr Bello Atanda, the party's State Organising Secretary, would act as the secretary.
The statement mentioned, “Osun APC has selected a strong committee to organize a suitable formal defection of Omo Oba Dotun Babayemi and Dr Akin Ogunbiyi with their thousands of supporters and followers across the state into the APC.
“Experienced APC leader Alhaji Mayegun Debo Badru (08033306814) will head the 12-member defection committee, while Hon Bello Atanda (08033273508), the State Organising Secretary of the party, will be the committee's secretary.
“Other members of the defection committee include Mr Sunday Akere, Mr Delani Ajanaku, Mr Femi Kujembola, Lord Monyeh, and Mr Richard Tinubu.
“Also on the committee are Mr Damola Abdulsalam, Alhaja Fauziat Olaniyan, Alhaja Kudirat Fakokunde, Mr Rasheed Adeniji, Sakirat Adeoye, and Mr Olubisi Oladosu.
The statement mentioned that the committee has the authority to plan the details for the smooth defection event on a feasible date, not later than next week.
