PDP Ogun lawmakers defection sees six Ogun Assembly members join APC, deepening the opposition party’s internal crisis and political losses
The Peoples Democratic Party has suffered another setback as six members of the Ogun State House of Assembly defected to the ruling All Progressives Congress, further weakening the opposition party’s presence at the state level.
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The PDP Ogun lawmakers defection involves Lukman Adeleye representing Odogbolu, Bello Damilare representing Sagamu I, Lawal Samsideen representing Ogun Waterside, Oluseun Samuel representing Ijebu North East, Owode Waliu representing Ijebu East, and Dickson Kolawole representing Remo North.
The lawmakers reportedly cited the prolonged leadership crisis within the PDP as the primary reason for their decision to leave the party.
Their exit marks the final group of legislators elected on the PDP platform in Ogun State to join the APC, signalling a significant shift in the state’s political balance.
The development comes amid a broader wave of defections that has seen the PDP lose several high-profile members across the country in recent times.
Political observers note that internal disagreements and factional struggles have continued to erode cohesion within the party.
The crisis within the PDP has resulted in a split at the national level, with competing factions laying claim to leadership structures.
One faction, aligned with Minister of the Federal Capital Territory Nyesom Wike, recently held a national convention in Abuja, while a rival bloc aligned with Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde stayed away and had previously conducted its own convention in Ibadan.
Legal disputes have also compounded the crisis, with multiple court rulings challenging the legitimacy of party conventions conducted by the rival factions.
Appeals have been filed at higher judicial levels as stakeholders continue to contest control of the party’s structure.
The PDP has also faced a steady loss of elected officials, including governors and lawmakers at both state and national levels, many of whom have switched allegiance to the APC or other political parties over the past months.
Also read: INEC Updates PDP Leadership List in Controversial Move
Analysts suggest that the latest defections in Ogun State could further strengthen the APC’s dominance in the region while intensifying pressure on the PDP to resolve its internal conflicts ahead of the 2027 general elections.
