Gov. Abiodun, Senator Yayi Receive Over 20,000 PDP Defectors Into APC In Ogun West

With barely five months to the 2027 Governorship election, Ogun State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has suffered another major setback as the party’s former state Chairman, Hon. Sikirullahi Ogundele led several others to defect to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) from Ogun West Senatorial district of the state.

Other notable politicians, who defected alongside Ogundele to the state chapter of APC included the former state Publicity Secretary, Akinloye Bankole, the former PDP Youths Leader in the state, Oyejide Sukanmi,, Omooba Segun Adewale, former local government chairmen under PDP, Hon. Titus Soji Eweje, Alhaji Kayode Adewale Sunmola. Jinadu Hammed, as well as the State Women Leader, Kemi Adeyemi, High Chief Adejobi, the Lisa of Imeko, former PDP Senatorial Candidate in Ogun West, Alhaji Ganiyu Dada Obanibashiri and ADC State legal adviser among others.

The detectors were received into the party by the trio of the state governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun, the APC governorship candidate for the state, Senator Solomon Olamilekan Adeola, as well as the state party Chairman, Chief Yemi Sanusi at a grand reception organised for them in Ilaro, headquarters of Yewa South Local Government Area of the state.

Speaking on behalf of the defectors, the former PDP Chairman, Ogundele declared that the party has since “collapsed” with the umbrella torn into pieces.

Ogundele likened the current state of the umbrella party to that of a burning house, declaring that no right-thinking person would remain inside a building engulfed by fire and allowed himself to be consumed by such a ragging fire.

He further disclosed that the mass movement of governors and other prominent politicians away from the PDP was evidence of the deep crisis within the party, stressing that it would amount to a political suicide should the party leadership like himself and others still stay in the party.

Commenting on the crisis surrounding the indigeneship status of the APC governorship candidate, Adeola, Ogundele described such allegations as a recurring feature that is so peculiar with the governorship contests in the Gateway State.

He urged party supporters to disregard claims questioning Adeola’s Ogun roots, arguing that similar allegations had been made against past governors of the state, begging from the Aremo Olusegun Osoba in 1999, to Otunba Gbenga Daniel in 2003 and Ibikunle Amosun in 2011, stressing that despite that, they all won the elections.

“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, however, urged party faithful to disregard the rumour of indigeneship against Adeola, popularly known as “Yayi”.

Receiving the defectors, the State APC Chairman, Chief Yemi Sanusi said the quality of PDP leaders that joined APC was an indication that, the oppositions are in tatters.

He called the opposition members to join APC at their ward levels and witness the development across the state.

While welcoming the new APC members from PDP, Prince Abiodun said it is heartwarming that they are joining the winning party at a time when elections are few months away stressing that they will reap bountifully from APC administration at state and federal level.

Also welcoming the former PDP chieftains and their followers, the APC governorship candidate, Senator Adeola call on them to mobilize and vote for APC in all the coming general elections stressing that theirs sacrifices will not be forgotten.

He called on members of APC to see them as brothers and sisters adding that their principled stand to forgo their position for his ambition is encouraging and will not be forgotten .