The ruling All Progressives Congress, APC in Lagos on Thursday welcomed hundreds of members of opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the Labour Party (LP) to its ranks.
The PDP and LP members joined APC at Mainland Constituency II in Lagos State .
They were received by Mr Rasheed Shabi, a member of the State House of Assembly (Mainland ll) and other chieftains of the party in the area.
While receiving the defectors, Shabi said President Bola Tinubu’s style of leadership is attracting opposition members to the ruling party.
He added that the defectors joined party to support the president towards achieving his Renewed Hope Agenda.
The lawmaker, Chairman, House Committee on Environment (Parastatals), said Lagos APC had enough room to accommodate more new members, assuring the defectors of equal treatment and fairness.
“My dear defectors, the ruling party has your interest at heart. I ,therefore, urge you to be patient with President Tinubu led-government, everything will be fine, fuel price, food stuff prices will soon come down.
“Congratulations to you for making the right choice, you are all welcome to the ruling party.
“We will ensure that you will benefit from all opportunities regarding the welfare of members without sentiments,” the lawmaker said.
Shabi assured that he would continue to give his best to the people of his constituency.
He urged the defectors, who are the Wards, A, B, and C of the constituency, to be loyal and shun anti-party activities “so that you can enjoy the benefits of being APC member to the fullest.”
In their separate speeches, some of the defectors from PDP and Labour Party described their former parties as weak in the state, promising to work hard to give Lagos APC more weight at the grassroots
Leading defectors from PDP, Mr Edupo Benjamin, noted that they were impressed by Shabi’s good work in the area of empowerment, facilitation of road projects, drilling of bore holes and others.
Benjamin said that the lawmaker had been providing books, school bags and tablet device for students, to help them in their studies.
Leading the Labour Party, Mr Azankpo Nobert, said they were convinced that Lagos APC was the place to be ,adding their former party abandoned them after the election.
Nobert said the lawmaker was always available to listen to people and that he kept an open door always.
In separate speeches ,some of the other defectors from PDP and Labour Party described their former parties as weak in the state, promising to work hard to give APC more weight at the grassroots
Also, Commenting, a APC Chieftain, Mr Tajudeen Agoro, who defected from PDP to APC in 2019, congratulated the defected members, saying that their decision was a wise one.
“I can assure you will not regret your decision. In this party, you will be given opportunities to showcase yourself and tap the benefits of politics.
“Two things are the reasons we join politics: What we will benefit and what we will become.
“All those opportunities are what I have benefited since I joined APC in 2019. I believe that you would also get them,” he said.
The event witnessed notable party leaders such as Mr Tunde Williams, a former Special Adviser to Gov. Babajide Sanwo-Olu on Labour Matters,Mr Bosun Agori,and Mr Tony Fasanmi
Leaders of the various wards at the constituency were also present.
