The Labour Party (LP) Chairman in Apapa Local Government Area of Lagos State, Prince Femi Badia, on Tuesday led a group of party members across Lagos Central Senatorial District to defect to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
Badia made the declaration during the APC Lagos Central Senatorial District Mega Rally held at the Mobolaji Johnson Arena (formerly Onikan Stadium), Lagos.
Explaining his decision, Badia cited Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu’s performance and the need to support both the governor and President Bola Tinubu ahead of the 2027 general elections.
He noted that he and his supporters were aligning with the APC to strengthen its chances in Saturday’s local government council elections across the district.
“We are here today with our people to join the progressives and work for President Bola Tinubu in 2027,” Badia stated. “We are also committed to working with the APC to ensure victory in the upcoming council polls for all its chairmanship and councillorship candidates.”
He declared the immediate launch of “Operation Go to Your Polling Units and Deliver for APC,” pledging victory for the party at his and his supporters’ polling units.
Badia revealed that the defectors were drawn from four local governments within the senatorial district and expressed gratitude to APC leaders for their warm reception.
Lagos State APC Chairman, Pastor Cornelius Ojelabi, welcomed the defectors and presented them with party flags. He lauded Alhaji Babatunde Balogun, Chairman of the Local Government Campaign Council, for facilitating the defection.
Ojelabi assured the new members of full integration into the party structure but emphasized that rewards would be based on hard work and contributions to the party’s growth.
“On behalf of our party’s leadership, I welcome you and commend your decision to identify with the APC. We are confident that your presence will further strengthen our electoral fortunes,” Ojelabi said.
He expressed optimism that the APC would sweep all 20 Local Government Areas and 37 Local Council Development Areas (LCDAs) in the forthcoming elections, and urged party members to engage non-Yoruba residents to rally support for the APC.
Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, represented by his deputy, Dr. Obafemi Hamzat, encouraged party faithful to come out en masse with their Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) to ensure total victory.
“We must not disappoint our President on Saturday. Tinubu is a man of his word, and we must prove that Lagos is solidly behind him,” Sanwo-Olu said.
Deputy Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Hon. Mojisola Meranda, and APC Women Leader, Mrs. Jumoke Okoya-Thomas, also called on women and youths to mobilise and vote overwhelmingly for the party.
“No opposition party can match APC’s strength in Lagos,” Okoya-Thomas declared. “This election will set the tone for 2027.”
Senator Wasiu Sanni-Eshilokun (APC – Lagos Central) echoed the calls for full support, stating that APC’s continued development strides in Lagos must be reflected in total electoral victory.
Chairman of the Campaign Council, Alhaji Babatunde Balogun, described the turnout at the rally as “spectacular and mammoth,” congratulating APC candidates in advance.
The event was attended by hundreds of party faithful, APC leaders, socio-cultural associations, women and youth groups.