Ogun lawmaker dumps PDP for APC, cites leadership crisis

A member of the Ogun State House of Assembly representing Ijebu North Constituency I, Rasheed Kashamu, on Monday announced his defection from the Peoples Democratic Party to the All Progressives Congress.

Kashamu, who announced his defection on the floor of the House, cited irreconcilable differences and divisions that have polarised the opposition party at the state and national levels.

Reading his letter at plenary, the Speaker, Oludaisi Elemide, said the lawmaker formally notified the House of his resignation from the PDP and his decision to join the APC, citing factional disputes at the national level and leadership tussles at the state level as reasons for his defection.

The lawmaker, who is also the son of a former senator representing Ogun East, the late Sen. Buruji Kashamu, said he aligned his decision with his resolve to join other progressives in the state to support Governor Dapo Abiodun’s strides under the ISEYA Agenda and the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Tinubu.

He explained that, “after a review of the current state of affairs of the PDP at the national level, with factions and unresolved leadership crises, and as someone who rode on the pro-people legacy and support of my constituents in Ijebu North I State Constituency, I have agreed with my leaders and teeming supporters that we should move en masse into the APC.

“So, in order to bring our winning formula in Ijebu North I into the APC and fully support Mr Governor’s ISEYA Agenda, as well as the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, alongside my teeming supporters, we are now members of the APC.

“I have since joined the APC at my ward in Oke Sopen, Ijebu-Igbo, Ijebu North Local Government Area of Ogun State, and I am ready to contribute my quota to further strengthen the ruling party and entrench good governance across the state.”

He informed the House that he had joined the APC at his Oke Sopen Ward, Ijebu-Igbo, Ijebu North Local Government Area, alongside his supporters from across Ijebu North.

His wife, uncle and other well-wishers were present as his co-lawmakers, led by the Speaker, formally welcomed him into their fold at the Assembly Complex, Oke-Mosan, Abeokuta.

There has recently been a significant wave of defections from the opposition PDP to the ruling APC, involving high-profile figures, including governors and lawmakers, in states such as Bayelsa, Rivers and Enugu.

Many of the defectors have cited divisions and irreconcilable differences within the PDP, following the emergence of factional leadership under Sen. Tanimu Turaki and Muhammed Abdulrahman as acting chairmen for a group loyal to the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike.