The Oyo State chapter of the All Progressives Congress on Tuesday said politicians, who recently defected from the party to the Africa Democratic Congress and other political parties, had entered what it described as political wilderness.
It said the defectors could not revive their political fortune by joining new parties.
The party’s position was contained in a statement made available to journalists by its Publicity Secretary, Dr AbdulAzeez Olatunde.
Olatunde specifically mentioned the governorship candidate of the ADC, Olufemi Lanlehin; and the party’s Oyo South senatorial candidate, Soji Akanbi, among those he said had lost their political relevance the moment they left the APC.
He recalled that Lanlehin was in the Senate on the platform of the Action Congress of Nigeria, before the party changed to the APC, and left with another serving Senator.
He said the two of them lost in their bids to return to the Senate as they were floored at the polls by the candidates of the APC.
He added, “Senator Lanlehin contested for the seat of Oyo South Senatorial District in 2015 and we all know the result. It is amazing to see someone who cannot win election in nine local governments aspiring to win the governorship election where there are 33 local government areas.
“We will like to remind Senator Lanlehin that he won the election in 2011 based on the strength of our party, the then ACN and not on his personality or popularity.
“The same thing happened to Senator Akanbi in 2015 who rode on the popularity of the APC and the laudable achievements of Governor Abiola Ajimobi to win the Oyo South Senatorial seat in the National Assembly.
“We want to tell them and their ilk that no amount of name calling, brickbats and mudslinging can revive their political career.
“The people of the state have shown their preference for the APC and its candidates.”