The 2019 governorship candidate of the Abundant Nigeria Renewal Party (ANRP) in Oyo State, Olalekan Ayorinde, has officially defected to the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the state.
He was formally received on Wednesday at the APC secretariat in Oke-Ado, Ibadan, by the state chairman, Moses Alake, alongside party leaders from Ibadan North East Local Government Area and Ward 2 executives.
Also present at the reception were the Chairman of Ibadan North East Local Government, Azeez Asimolowo Elewure, Ward 2 chairman, Morufu Ogboriefon, and other party stakeholders.
Speaking at the event, Ayorinde said his decision was not driven by personal ambition or elective aspirations but by his desire to contribute to the growth of the party and the development of Oyo State and Ibadan in particular.
He emphasized that public service and state development remain his guiding principles as a political actor.
In his remarks, Elewure described Ayorinde as a valuable addition to the APC, noting that his experience, popularity, and grassroots influence would strengthen the party ahead of the 2027 general elections.
He added that Ayorinde had previously aligned with the party at ward and local government levels before formalizing his membership at the state level.
Ayorinde was the ANRP governorship candidate in the 2019 Oyo State election.
