Four senators and three members of the House of Representatives have dumped the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and joined the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
SaharaReporters gathered that Senator Sampson Ekong, who represents Akwa Ibom South, and Senator Aniekan Bassey of Akwa Ibom North-East, formally announced their defection on Wednesday during plenary.
They were joined by Senator Olubiyi Oluwole Fadeyi, representing Osun Central and Sen. Francis Adenigba Fadahunsi from Osun East.
Their letters of allegiance to APC were read on the Senate floor by Senate President Godswill Akpabio.
Recall that Senator Fadeyi, in a separate letter dated June 12, had earlier resigned from the party, blaming “unresolved internal crises, deep-rooted divisions, court-imposed structures, and the inability of the PDP to provide credible leadership at the national level” as key reasons for his exit.
The letter, addressed to the PDP Ward Chairman in Oke-Ejigbo, Ila-Orangun, came shortly after another PDP senator from Osun East, Francis Fadahunsi, also dumped the party.
“I wish to formally notify you that I am resigning my membership of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) with immediate effect,” Fadeyi stated, adding that the decision followed “extensive consultations with political associates, family members, and close advisers.”
In a similar development, two members of the House of Representatives from Osun State and one from Edo State also defected from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC) during the plenary sessions on Wednesday.
The lawmakers are; Taofeek Ajilesoro, representing Ife central/east/north/south federal constituency, and Omirin Olusanya, representing Atakunmosa east, west/Ilesha east, west federal constituency.
The third lawmaker who left PDP for APC is Marcus Onobun, who represents the Esan central/Esan west/Igueben federal constituency of Edo,
Tajudeen Abbas, speaker of the house of representatives, read the notices of the lawmakers’ defection during Wednesday’s plenary.
On Tuesday, SaharaReporters also that the leadership caucus of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Osun State endorsed Governor Ademola Adeleke for a second term in 2026 and declared support for President Bola Tinubu’s re-election bid in 2027.
Governor Adeleke had disclosed this on Tuesday via a post on his X (formerly Twitter) handle following a high-level meeting with the PDP leadership caucus in Osogbo.
“Yesterday, I met with the @OfficialPDPNig Leadership Caucus in Osogbo after weeks of consultations with stakeholders across Osun — from traditional rulers and civil servants to market leaders and grassroots party members,” the governor stated.
He had reaffirmed his commitment to the PDP, the platform on which he was elected governor, and expressed gratitude for the party’s continued support.
“I remain in the PDP, the party that gave me the platform to serve the good people of Osun,” Adeleke said. “I have been unanimously endorsed by the Osun PDP for a second term in 2026.”
