The governor said this while welcoming thousands of people who defected from the All Progressives Congress (APC), African Democratic Congress (ADC), Zenith Labour Party, (ZLP), Alliance for Democracy (AD), and other political structures in the state to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) assured them all of the equal rights and privileges in the party. He said all the people that defected would receive equal benefit accruals from the PDP, encouraging all members of the party to work together to bring about victory for the PDP in all elections in 2023.

    In his welcome address, the state chairman of the PDP, Mr. Dayo Ogungbenro, appreciated those that decamped from their various parties for choosing the PDP, stating that the party “believes in equity.” He also expressed confidence that the defectors from the other parties would not be marginalized in the PDP family. In their various remarks, leaders of the defecting politicians, lauded Governor Makinde for providing good governance for Oyo State even as they pledged allegiance to the PDP. The leaders included a former Speaker of the Oyo State House of Assembly, who also represented Oyo Central in the Senate, Senator Monsurat Sunmonu, from the ADC, Pastor Akin Alamu who led the AD contingent, a former governorship aspirant on the platform of the APC, Mogaji Joseph Tegbe, former Chairman State Pilgrims Welfare Board (Muslim Wing), under the last administration, Sheik Taofeek Akewugbagold, and the leader of the Liberation Alliance Movement and former Commissioner under the defunct ACN administration, Pastor Taiwo Otegbeye.

Otegbeye, in his speech, told the gathering that he was convinced to join the PDP by the good works of Governor Makinde.