The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Lagos welcomed hundreds of former members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the Labour Party (LP) into its fold on Thursday.
These new members, from Mainland Constituency II in Lagos State, were officially received by Mr. Rasheed Shabi, a member of the State House of Assembly (Mainland II), along with other party leaders in the area.
During the welcoming ceremony, Shabi attributed the influx of opposition members to President Bola Tinubu’s effective leadership. He highlighted that the defectors joined the APC to support the president's Renewed Hope Agenda.
Shabi, who is also the Chairman of the House Committee on Environment (Parastatals), assured the new members that the Lagos APC had ample space to accommodate them and promised fair and equal treatment.
"My dear defectors, the ruling party has your interest at heart. I, therefore, urge you to be patient with President Tinubu’s government. Everything will be fine; fuel prices and food costs will soon come down. Congratulations to you for making the right choice, and welcome to the ruling party. We will ensure you benefit from all opportunities regarding the welfare of members without bias," Shabi said.
He further pledged to continue serving the people of his constituency to the best of his abilities and encouraged the new members from Wards A, B, and C to remain loyal and avoid anti-party activities to fully enjoy the benefits of being part of the APC.
Several defectors from the PDP and Labour Party expressed their dissatisfaction with their former parties, describing them as weak in the state. They promised to work hard to strengthen the APC at the grassroots level.
Mr. Edupo Benjamin, leading the defectors from the PDP, praised Shabi’s contributions to the community, including empowerment initiatives, road projects, and the provision of boreholes. He also highlighted the lawmaker's efforts in providing educational materials such as books, school bags, and tablet devices for students.
Mr. Azankpo Nobert, who led the Labour Party defectors, shared that they felt abandoned by their former party after the election. He commended Shabi for his accessibility and willingness to listen to the people.
Mr. Tajudeen Agoro, an APC chieftain who himself defected from the PDP to the APC in 2019, congratulated the new members, assuring them that they would not regret their decision. "In this party, you will have opportunities to showcase yourself and benefit from politics. I have gained much since joining the APC, and I believe you will too," he said.
The event was attended by notable party leaders, including Mr. Tunde Williams, a former Special Adviser to Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu on Labour Matters, Mr. Bosun Agori, and Mr. Tony Fasanmi, along with leaders of the various wards in the constituency.
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