A leading stalwart of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ekiti Local Government Area of Kwara State and former chairmanship aspirant, Amb. Anjorin Babatunde, has described the party as united, firmly rooted and too strong to be distracted by recent political movements in the area.
Anjorin made this known in a statement issued to Veritas News Hub while reacting to the recent wave of defections involving the APC and the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Kwara State.
He said while the APC continues to welcome politicians with credible grassroots structures from the opposition, the departure of some individuals from the party would not affect its strength in Ekiti LGA, arguing that some of those who left had already lost significant political relevance.
Anjorin congratulated members of the PDP who recently decided to join the APC, describing their decision as timely and commending political elders who, according to him, had chosen to align with the ruling party.
He particularly praised Hon. Samuel Bamisaye, whom he described as one of the strongest PDP stakeholders in Ekiti LGA, as well as Barr. Aborisade, the immediate past State Legal Adviser of the PDP, for joining the APC.
According to him, both men had over the years contributed to efforts aimed at securing development for Ekiti LGA and had now recognised the importance of being directly involved in the political process.
“If you are not part of the process, you cannot question the process. They have understood this timeless political wisdom,” Anjorin said.
He urged the new APC members to remain committed to the party's ideals and the development of Ekiti LGA, assuring them that the party remained a platform that valued loyalty, capacity and genuine grassroots support.
Reacting to the few individuals who recently moved from the APC to the PDP, Anjorin was dismissive of their political significance, describing them as lightweight politicians who, in his assessment, lacked the structure and grassroots support required to influence elections.
“When leaders are walking or working and the followers refused to join them, then they're just walking alone,” he said.
He argued that political relevance should not be measured by social media activity or public noise but by the ability to mobilise supporters and maintain a strong presence at the polling-unit level.
Anjorin specifically criticised some of those from Opin Ward who reportedly defected to the PDP, referring to them as the “Anigba Opin Division” and alleging that they had lost touch with their political base.
“These people have lost touch with their base. They are Anigba Opin Division. They have no political value, no structure and no followers. They can't even bring a councillor into politics of today. They are just walking alone while leaders are working,” he stated.
The APC chieftain also expressed confidence in his party's position ahead of the 2027 elections, declaring that the PDP would not win Ekiti LGA under the current political circumstances.
He called on APC members and stakeholders to remain united, saying the party's cohesion remained one of its greatest strengths.
“Ekiti LGA APC remains unshaken. We are solidly on ground. Our people know the difference between light and darkness, between progress and retrogression. PDP has no chance come 2027, maybe 2031,” he said.
Anjorin further highlighted the APC's reported decision to zone the Federal House of Representatives candidacy to the Ekiti Bloc, describing the development as a response to a long-standing demand from community leaders, traditional institutions and opinion moulders in the area.
He said the decision demonstrated that the party had listened to the concerns of the people and urged residents of Ekiti LGA to reciprocate the gesture through their votes in the 2027 elections.
“The All Progressives Congress has heeded to the cries of community and opinion leaders by zoning the Federal House of Representatives candidacy to Ekiti Bloc. This is a victory for all Ekiti sons and daughters. The party has listened to us,” he said.
He called on the people of Ekiti LGA to come together and support what he described as the party's recognition of their longstanding demand.
“We must value what we requested for and defend it with our votes. We must come out en masse to show that we appreciate this gesture. That is how we will make minority parties understand that Ekiti people know what they want and will defend it with their votes,” Anjorin concluded.
-Veritas News Hub Report
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