The last two members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the Ondo State House of Assembly has defected to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), effectively leaving the opposition party without any representation in the legislative chamber.
The lawmakers are former Minority Leader, Hon. Olajide Oguntodu (Akure South 1 Constituency), and his deputy, Hon. Oluwatoyin Daodu (Akoko Southwest 1 Constituency) announced their defection on Thursday during the plenary presided over by the Speaker, Rt. Hon. Olamide Oladiji, in Akure.
Their decision comes barely five weeks after two other PDP members in the Assembly had resigned from the party, citing dissatisfaction with its internal affairs.
Rt Hon. Olamide Oladiji, Speaker of the assembly while reading their letters of resignation before the lawmakers, formally received the defectors into the APC fold, describing the development as “a new dawn for the House and the state’s political landscape.”
In their separate letters, Oguntodu and Daodu said their exit from the PDP followed “extensive consultations” with their families, constituents, and political leaders who advised them to join the ruling party. They pointed to “persistent internal wrangling and disunity” within the PDP as reasons for their decision.
The Speaker commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for what he called “purposeful and visionary leadership,” noting that the defections were a reflection of the people’s confidence in the APC-led government
He also praised the state Governor, Dr. Lucky Orimisan Aiyedatiwa, for his “progressive initiatives and inclusive leadership,” urging the new entrants to contribute meaningfully to the ruling party’s consolidation and the development of the state.
Meanwhile, during the session, the Assembly expressed concern over the deplorable condition of Ogbagi Akoko/Irun Akoko roads in the Akoko Northwest Local Government Area.
Raising the matter under matters of urgent public importance, House Majority Leader Hon. Olatunji Oshati described the road’s state as “a grave danger to lives and property,” calling for immediate government intervention to avert further accidents and economic disruption in the area.
With the latest development, the All Progressives Congress now holds a total majority in the Ondo State House of Assembly, further strengthening its dominance ahead of the 2025 governorship election in the state