Osun 2026: PDP Loses Members To APC, Blames Unequal Treatment, Neglect

Some members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Alliance Democratic Party (ADP) and a faction of the All Progressives Congress (APC), The Osun Progressive (TOP), on Sunday formally joined the APC in Irewole Local Government of Osun State.

A former Secretary of the local government, Alimi Surajudeen, who led the PDP members to APC, blamed unequal treatment and neglect of some members for dumping the ruling party in the state.

He alleged that the PDP is favouring only the perceived friends and family and neglecting other members that have suffered for the party.

“When you are in a party and you don’t feel sense of belonging and isolated, and the party is doing things only within their friends and families, it is not a party for the masses, I don’t think I can go along with such a party.

“In Osun state, especially in Irewole, only those they see as family are dominating without giving other people the opportunity to have the dividend of democracy, I can not being to such a party.

“I was a former Secretary of the local government during Oyinlola tenure. Political party is to help the masses and not for a group of people. In a situation where out of 100, only 2 percent are enjoying, such a government is creating suffering and problems for the masses,” Alade said.

The MD/CEO of National Inland Waterways, Bola Oyebamiji, who received the defectors in his hometown, Ikire, Irewole local government, said the defection shows that APC is reckoned with and the party is returning to Osun come 2026.

“Since we left the government, the leadership of Adegboyega Oyetola has been very steadfast. None of our members has ever decamped to any party, and today, we have 120 members of PDP, ADP and TOP that are joining the APC.

“In the next two or three months, you will see more that are still coming. This shows that 2026 is a business of success for APC. We have recognised the defectors as members of our party and they are going to be treated well. We will not discriminate,” Oyebamiji said.

The state chairman of the APC, Tajudeen Lawal, assured the defectors that they will not regret dumping their party for the APC.