Six Ogun PDP Lawmakers Jump Ship to APC Amid Political Turmoil
In a dramatic turn of events rocking the political landscape of Ogun State, six lawmakers originally elected under the banner of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) have defected to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), raising fresh questions about party cohesion and strategic alignment ahead of future elections.
According to a Global Mirror News dispatch, the lawmakers, including the Minority Leader, Hon. Lukman Adeleye (Odogbolu) officially announced their switch to the APC on Sunday March 29 in a move they described as necessary for their political survival and constituency interests.
The development follows earlier defections by Hon. Atobatele Lukmon (Abeokuta South I) and Rasheed Kashamu (Ijebu North I), son of the late political figure Hon. Buruji Kashamu, last year.
Who Defected?
The six lawmakers who recently joined the APC are:
Hon. Lukman Adeleye – Minority Leader (Odogbolu State Constituency)
Hon. Bello Damilare – Sagamu Constituency I
Hon. Lawal Samsideen – Ogun Waterside
Hon. Oluseun Samuel – Ijebu North East
Hon. Owode Waliu – Ijebu East
Hon. Dickson Kolawole – Remo North
In a telephone interview with Global Mirror News, Adeleye acknowledged the shift, explaining that internal leadership battles within the PDP had left them with little choice but to realign with the APC. He said:
“This has not been an easy decision. But after years of unresolved leadership crises in our party, we have taken a step we believe is in the best interest of our political careers and the people we represent.”
Performance and Political Calculus
Adeleye credited the “purposeful leadership” of President Bola Tinubu and the developmental record of Governor Dapo Abiodun for influencing the lawmakers’ decision. He emphasized that they had, for almost three years, supported the Governor’s initiatives to improve the welfare of Ogun residents — and said they plan to continue that work under the APC banner.
PDP Fires Back
Reacting sharply to the move, Sunday Solarin, Secretary of the PDP in Ogun State, lambasted the defectors for what he described as political betrayal.
Solarin challenged the lawmakers’ justification, pointing out that they were still unwilling to resign their Assembly seats despite abandoning the party under whose platform they were elected:
“They want to enjoy the privileges of office without remaining loyal to the party that brought them here. That is betrayal, plain and simple.”
What This Means Going Forward
The mass defection has intensified debate across political circles — and according to Global Mirror News, it is likely to have ripple effects on party strategies leading up to the next general elections. The PDP, still reeling from internal conflict, now faces the challenge of rebuilding trust and cohesion, while the APC consolidates its legislative strength within Ogun State.
