Ahead of the 2027 general in ogun state, the former Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Ogun State, Dr Sikirulai Ogundele, has described his decision to leave the opposition party for the All Progressives Congress (APC) as a necessary political move, saying remaining in the PDP would have amounted to “political suicide.”

Ogundele stated this yesterday at Ilaro, Yewa South Local Government Area of Ogun State, during a reception organised for former PDP members who recently defected to the APC and the formal declaration of support for the APC governorship candidate, Senator Solomon Adeola, popularly known as Yayi.

The former PDP chairman described the state of the opposition party to a “burning house”, arguing that the defection of governors and other prominent politicians from the PDP was evidence of the crisis within the party.

“The party from where we left has collapsed. The umbrella is torn,” Ogundele said.

“Regarding why I left PDP, I compared PDP to a burning house where no sane man will wait until the fire consumes him. What makes many state governors leave PDP, it will be suicidal if someone like me did not leave.”

Ogundele also expressed confidence in Adeola’s chances in the 2027 governorship election in Ogun State, claiming that the APC candidate had no serious contender.

He described the PDP governorship candidate, Ladi Adebutu, as a businessman, while questioning his political intentions.

“Yayi has no contender in Ogun. Ladi is just a businessman .”

Ogundele also urged voters to disregard allegations questioning Adeola’s roots in Ogun State, describing such controversies as a recurring feature of governorship contests in the state.

The former PDP chairman said the movement of prominent politicians away from the opposition party demonstrated the depth of its internal crisis and justified his decision to join the APC.

Corroborating, a prominent former PDP member, Mr Lisa Adejobi, disclosed that they had joined the APC to identify with what he described as a historic political movement.

“We are here to show our face so that people would know that we are real, and after 50 years, we would not be left behind when history is made,” he said.
Adejobi also commended Governor Dapo Abiodun for helping to build consensus that produced a Yewa man as govenorship candidate of the APC.

He noted that all their followers are organic who possessed Permanent Voter Cards.

Speaking at the event, the APC Senatorial Chairman for Ogun West, Alhaji Azeez Ekeweme, expressed satisfaction with the defection of the former PDP members, assuring them that they had been fully integrated into the APC.

Ekeweme urged the defectors to commence grassroots mobilisation ahead of the 2027 elections, saying the party was working towards victory.

Also speaking, the Minister of State for Health, Dr Kunle Salako remarked that prominent PDP members in Ogun West had defected to the APC, listing Evangelist Titus Eweje, former PDP women leader Chief Kemi Adeyemi and the party’s 2023 governorship candidate in Ogun West, Alhaji Ganiu Dada, popularly known as Obanibasiri, including the Legal Adviser of the African Democratic Congress, Hon. Idowu, as one of those who had joined the APC, amomg others.

Salako declared that the PDP had lost its political strength in Ogun West.

“PDP is dead in Ogun West,” he said.

Also,the state Chairman of the APC, Chief Yemi Sanusi, thanked the former PDP members for joining the ruling party, describing their defection as a boost to the APC.

Sanusi urged other politicians outside the APC to join the party, assuring them of equal treatment and inclusion.

“There is still space in the APC. Come and join us; we won’t let you down .”