National News – Former Senate Chief Whip Hosea Agboola led a major political shift in Ibadan, Oyo State, on Wednesday, April 23, 2026, as more than 1,000 members of the Peoples Democratic Party officially moved into the All Progressives Congress under the Alleluyah Reformed Movement.

The political event, staged at A3 Hotel in Sango, Ibadan, was organised to strengthen grassroots mobilisation for President Bola Tinubu’s anticipated 2027 re-election bid.

Agboola, a former PDP senator representing the South-West between 2011 and 2015, said the defection was triggered by internal crises, indiscipline, and unresolved conflicts within the PDP, which he argued weakened its cohesion.

He claimed the new structure could deliver between four and five million votes for Tinubu across Ibadanland and surrounding areas.

According to him, the movement has built political networks across all 11 local government areas in Ibadanland and is expanding statewide, positioning itself as a decisive electoral bloc ahead of the next general election.

Reactions in Ibadan have been sharply divided.

APC supporters described the defection as a strategic breakthrough that could reshape Oyo’s political balance, especially if the claimed grassroots structures remain active.

However, PDP loyalists dismissed the development as exaggerated political theatre aimed at inflating influence ahead of 2027.

Independent observers noted that while mass defections often signal momentum shifts, their real impact depends on voter loyalty during elections rather than symbolic gatherings.

Some residents also questioned the feasibility of the projected vote figures, describing them as politically ambitious in a state known for tight electoral competition between the two dominant parties.

Political analysts suggest the move could intensify early campaign positioning and increase political tension in the state.

The development reflects Nigeria’s increasingly fluid political environment, where defections are used as tools of influence-building ahead of elections.

It raises broader questions about party ideology versus political convenience, especially as actors reposition for 2027.

While the APC may gain short-term organisational strength in Ibadanland, analysts warn that economic conditions, governance performance, and voter sentiment will ultimately determine electoral outcomes.