Ogun APC Officially Receives Ex-PDP Chairman, Publicity Secretary, Women Leader, Others
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Ogun State has suffered another high-profile defection ahead of the 2027 governorship election as a former state Chairman of the party, Hon. Sikirullahi Ogundele, led several former leaders and chieftains into the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
Ogundele, who served as PDP chairman in the state, was among the prominent politicians from Ogun West Senatorial District who formally joined the APC at a grand reception held in Ilaro, headquarters of Yewa South Local Government Area.
Other defectors included former PDP State Publicity Secretary, Akinloye Bankole; former State Youth Leader, Oyejide Sunkanmi; Omooba Segun Adewale; former local government chairman, Hon. Titus Soji Eweje; Jinadu Hammed; State Women Leader, Kemi Adeyemi; Lisa Adejobi; former PDP senatorial candidate for Ogun West, Alhaji Ganiyu Dada Obanibashiri; and the former ADC State Legal Adviser, among others.
The defectors were received into the APC by Governor Dapo Abiodun; the party’s 2027 governorship candidate, Senator Solomon Olamilekan Adeola; and the state APC Chairman, Chief Yemi Sanusi.
Speaking on behalf of the defectors, Ogundele declared that the PDP had “collapsed”, describing the party’s current situation as one in which its “umbrella is torn into pieces.”
He likened the situation in the opposition party to a burning house, saying no right-thinking person would remain in a building engulfed by fire and allow himself to be consumed.
According to him, the movement of several governors and prominent politicians out of the PDP was evidence of the depth of the crisis within the party.
Ogundele said remaining in the PDP under the prevailing circumstances would amount to “political suicide” for him and other members who had decided to defect.
He also dismissed the controversy surrounding the indigeneship of Adeola, popularly known as Yayi, describing it as a recurring feature of governorship contests in Ogun State.
He urged APC supporters to disregard claims questioning Adeola’s Ogun roots, noting that similar allegations had been made against some former governors of the state.
Ogundele said allegations had previously been made that former governors Olusegun Osoba, Gbenga Daniel and Ibikunle Amosun were not indigenes of Ogun State.
“They said Amosun is from Benin Republic, Daniel from Delta State, Osoba from Osogbo. Despite that, they all emerged as governors of the state. So, what is going on against Yayi now is an indication that he will also win,” he said.
He consequently urged APC members and supporters to disregard what he described as rumours about Adeola’s indigeneship.
Receiving the defectors, the APC State Chairman, Sanusi, said the calibre of PDP leaders who joined the ruling party demonstrated what he described as the state of the opposition in Ogun.
He urged other opposition politicians to join the APC at their respective wards, saying they would have the opportunity to witness the development taking place across the state.
