Ex-Reps member, Ojerinde, supporters return to APC in Oyo

A former member of the House of Representatives in the Orelope/Irepo/Olorunsogo federal constituency of Oyo State, Hon. Olumide Ojerinde, has returned to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).

Hon. Ojerinde represented Orelope/Irepo/Olorunsogo federal constituency of Oyo state at the House of Representatives under the APC between 2019 and 2023.

It is recalled that the lawmaker defected to the Accord Party during the 2023 general elections alongside other party chieftains in the Orelope local government area of the state.

At the reception for the Hon. Ojerinde in Igboho town on Tuesday, in company of his supporters, the lawmaker said that the return of the erstwhile aggrieved members into the APC would put the party in good stead ahead of future elections. 

“As you can see those of us that defected from our party, the APC, are back for the progress and unity of our great country. We’ve always been part of this great party, but our differences at the state level made us to defect. You can’t stay in opposition. I won’t even say we left the party. We only stepped aside due to differences and we’re back home. It’s work in progress. 

“Our leader that we left the party together with, Bayo Adelabu, the honourable Minister for Power and the local government party chairman, among others are back. It’s a ripple effect. The party is in good stead to wax stronger stronger”, he said. 

Hon. Ojerinde, who expressed optimism that Nigeria’s economy would soon improve with the strategies already put in place by President Bola Tinubu, enjoined Nigerians to be patient. 

“The stage we are presently passing through in the country is a phase. It would soon be over and everyone would enjoy the dividends. We all support the government. The president has plans and he’s doing well to actualize the plans. He came into power to hit the ground running. It’s a matter of time. I enjoin  Nigerians to support the government and be patient. It’s a renewed hope for Nigeria.”

Also speaking, a former chairman of the Accord Party in the Orelope local government area of Oyo state, Mr. Simon Alaba, who returned to the APC alongside members of the party, said that they were members of the APC, adding that disagreement among party members made them leave the party. 

“Today, we’re back in APC not because of anything but because APC is a progressive party. We’ve discovered that a kind of rearrangement was being done in the local government chapter of the party and the executive members of the party are fair minded. We would jointly organize the party to make it strong footed and remain focused on winning other future elections”, he said. 

In his speech at the event, the APC chairman in the local government, Mr. Soliu Egbebi, said that there are no new entrants in the party, adding that all members have equal recognition. 

Soliu Egbebi also advised APC members to encourage unity and progress in the party, saying that they should not inherit fight or quarrel they know nothing about. 

“You may end up being the losers at the end of it all”, he said.