The political landscape of the Ogun State House of Assembly has undergone a significant shift following the defection of the remaining six lawmakers elected on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
The latest move effectively leaves the opposition party without representation in the state legislature, consolidating the dominance of the APC in Ogun State’s lawmaking body.
The affected lawmakers include the Minority Leader, Lukman Adeleye, who represents Odogbolu State Constituency, alongside Bello Damilare (Sagamu Constituency I), Lawal Samsideen (Ogun Waterside), Oluseun Samuel (Ijebu North East), Owode Waliu (Ijebu East), and Dickson Kolawole (Remo North).
Their defection follows earlier exits by Atobatele Lukmon, representing Abeokuta South I, and Rasheed Kashamu, a member representing Ijebu North I Constituency and son of the late political figure Buruji Kashamu, who both switched allegiance to the APC last year.
Confirming the development in a telephone interview on Sunday, Adeleye attributed the decision to what he described as a prolonged leadership crisis within the PDP.
According to him, the internal turmoil has made it increasingly difficult for members to effectively pursue their political aspirations under the party’s platform.
“It is true that the remaining six lawmakers elected on the platform of the PDP in the Ogun State House of Assembly have defected to the APC. It is a tough decision, but we have been left with no choice but to move on with our political careers due to the protracted leadership crisis that has engulfed our party for years,” he stated.
Adeleye further explained that the lawmakers were influenced by what they perceive as effective governance at both the federal and state levels. He specifically cited the leadership of President Bola Tinubu and the performance of Governor Dapo Abiodun as key factors in their decision to join the ruling party.
“Having considered the purposeful and focused leadership of President Bola Tinubu towards enhancing the greatness of the country through his visionary and courageous economic reforms and infrastructural drive, as well as the good works of Governor Dapo Abiodun, we have decided to pitch our tent with the APC,” he added.
He also noted that the lawmakers had, over the past three years, aligned with the policies and programmes of the Abiodun administration, particularly in areas aimed at improving the welfare of Ogun residents. He assured that their commitment to governance would continue under the APC.
However, the development has drawn sharp criticism from the PDP leadership in the state. The party’s Secretary, Sunday Solarin, condemned the defections, describing them as a betrayal of the party that facilitated the lawmakers’ election into office.
Solarin questioned the moral justification of the lawmakers’ decision, noting that they had not relinquished their legislative seats despite abandoning the platform on which they were elected.
“The lawmakers are citing leadership differences in the party for their defection, yet they cannot resign their seats from the Assembly because they were elected on the platform of the PDP,” he said.
He further accused them of prioritising personal interests over party loyalty, insisting that genuine party members would remain committed despite internal challenges.
“They want to continue to enjoy the privileges of their positions, yet they are not ready to remain with the party because things are not the way they want. They have shifted their loyalty and betrayed the party that brought them to office,” Solarin added.
The mass defection underscores ongoing instability within the PDP in Ogun State and raises broader questions about party cohesion and ideological consistency in Nigeria’s political system. It also reinforces the APC’s growing grip on political structures within the state, potentially shaping legislative dynamics and policy direction in the months ahead.
