Six lawmakers from the Ogun State House of Assembly have dumped the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC). The lawmakers in question are 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 cited the protracted leadership crisis within the PDP as the reason for their defection. This move brings the total number of PDP lawmakers who have defected to the APC to 11 in the past 10 months. The crisis has also led to a split at the national level, with two factions vying for control of the leadership structure.
A faction aligned with the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) has been conducting a national convention in Abuja, while the rival faction, aligned with the Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, stayed away from the convention.
The recent wave of defections from the PDP to the APC is a clear indication of the party's internal struggles. The leadership crisis has led to a power vacuum, causing many lawmakers to seek greener pastures in the APC. This development has significant implications for the country's political landscape, particularly for the people of Ogun State who will now have to contend with lawmakers from a different party. The Supreme Court's decision on the rival faction's convention will be crucial in determining the party's future. The PDP's inability to resolve its internal issues has created an opportunity for the APC to consolidate its power.
