The Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Ogun State, Hon. Abayomi Tella, has said that several party members who recently defected to the All Progressives Congress (APC) have been relegated to the background and now “stand as mere onlookers” within the ruling party.
Tella stated this while speaking with journalists on Thursday, insisting that most defectors were paying the price for abandoning the PDP’s struggles only to seek refuge in the APC after victory had been secured.
According to him, defectors into the APC are “strategically sidelined” because they neither contributed to the party’s foundation nor participated in the efforts that delivered electoral successes.
“It is no longer enviable for a politician to cross from PDP to APC because most of our members who have gone there have become onlookers,” Tella declared.
“They were not part of their system from day one. When the members of the party were working for their victory, the defectors were not there, so they will still be treated as outsiders.”
His comments come months after the immediate past PDP chairman in the state, Hon. Sikirulai Ogundele, the party’s deputy governorship candidate in 2023, and several others dumped the PDP for the APC in July 2025.
Tella also hinted that the PDP is prepared to take advantage of the ongoing rift between Governor Dapo Abiodun and the Senator representing Ogun East, Otunba Gbenga Daniel (OGD).
He suggested that the PDP would gladly welcome either Abiodun or Daniel—both former PDP chieftains—should the crisis prevent them from securing political tickets in the APC.
“Part of politics is rift, and PDP gaining from it is also part of politics,” he said.
“We will begin to look at areas where the PDP can gain from the ongoing rift between Dapo Abiodun and OGD because Dapo Abiodun may not likely get his senatorial ticket from the APC.”
He added that the PDP would “rehabilitate” Abiodun should he return, saying the governor “needs to fit into the ideologies of the PDP.”
Tella said Daniel and former Governor Ibikunle Amosun—also a former PDP member—would be embraced wholeheartedly if they chose to return.
“If it is OGD that we can lure back into PDP, he is welcome. We will gladly harvest him back into the party because he is already a good breed,” he said.
“It will also be a plus for us to harvest Amosun back into PDP because we know bringing people like OGD, Abiodun, and Amosun into PDP is a big win for the party.”
Tella reaffirmed the strength and resilience of the opposition party in the state, insisting that despite internal and external challenges, the PDP remains firmly rooted.
“PDP is here to stay. The party can never die. If you try to kill it today, it will resurrect tomorrow,” he said. “We are making frantic efforts to keep our people together.”
'
'Do you want to share a story with us? Do you want to advertise with us? Do you need publicity for a product, service, or event? Contact us on WhatsApp +2348183319097 Email: platformtimes@gmail.com
We are committed to impactful investigative journalism for human interest and social justice. Your donation will help us tell more stories. Kindly donate any amount HERE
