Hundreds of members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the Labour Party defected to the All Progressives Congress (APC)  at Mainland Constituency II in Lagos on Thursday.

Receiving the detectors, Rasheed Shabi, a member of the Lagos House of Assembly (Mainland II), said President Bola Tinubu’s style of leadership endeared opposition members to the ruling party.

Mr Shabi added that the defectors joined the party to support the president towards achieving his Renewed Hope Agenda.

The lawmaker,  chairman of the House Committee on Environment (Parastatals), said the party 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’s government. Everything will be fine; fuel price and foodstuff prices will soon come down. Congratulations to you for making the right choice, and you are all welcome to join the ruling party.

“We will ensure that you will benefit from all opportunities regarding the welfare of members without sentiments,” the lawmaker said.

Mr Shabi assured that he would continue to give his best to the people of his constituency. He urged the defectors, 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 an APC member to the fullest.”

In their separate speeches, some of the PDP and Labour Party defectors described their former parties as weak in the state, promising to work hard to give APC  more weight at the grassroots.

Leading defectors from PDP, Edupo Benjamin, noted that they were impressed by Shabi’s good work in empowerment, facilitation of road projects, drilling of boreholes, and others.

Mr Benjamin said that the lawmaker had been providing books, school bags and tablet devices for students to help them study.

Leading the Labour Party, Azankpo Nobert said they were convinced that APC was the place to be, adding that their former party abandoned them after the election.

Mr Nobert said the lawmaker was always available to listen to people and kept an open door.

In separate speeches, some other PDP and Labour Party defectors described their former parties as weak in the state, promising to work hard to give APC  more weight at the grassroots.

Also, commenting, an APC chieftain, 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.

(NAN)