A former member of the House of Representatives, Hon. Folaranmi Oyebanji, has joined the All Progressives Congress (APC) with his supporters from Oko Ward, Surulere Local Government Area of Oyo State.
The former federal lawmaker and his followers were formally welcomed into the APC on Thursday at a gathering attended by prominent party leaders and local government party executives.
Among those present was Hon. Segun Dokun Odebunmi, a member of the House of Representatives, who described the development as a significant step towards strengthening the party and promoting unity among political stakeholders.
Odebunmi, in a statement reflecting on the gathering, said he joined other party leaders, including Hon. Remi Adepoju, Hon. Wale Adebayo, Hon. Jesutoye Inaolaji, Hon. Ibrahim Gbodeniyi, Hon. Kamorudeen Koro and Hon. Adedokun Ganiyu, to receive Oyebanji and his supporters.
He welcomed the former lawmaker and his followers into the APC family, expressing optimism that their entry would strengthen cooperation and foster better relationships among party members.
According to Odebunmi, politics should be about building bridges, working together and creating opportunities to serve the people better.
He added that the development would promote mutual understanding and a shared commitment to community development and the progress of the APC.
The defection is seen as a notable political realignment in Oko and the wider Surulere political constituency as political activities intensify ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Oyebanji’s entry, accompanied by his supporters from the APM, is expected to boost the APC’s grassroots mobilisation efforts and influence political calculations in the area.
The development also highlights the changing political alignments in Oyo State, where political actors continue to reposition themselves ahead of the next electoral cycle.
