Ogundele: PDP Has Collapsed, No Sane Man Will Stay in Burning House
ABEOKUTA — Former Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Ogun State, Hon. Sikirulai Ogundele, has described the party as “collapsed,” saying its internal crisis informed his decision to defect to the All Progressives Congress (APC).
Ogundele spoke on Sunday at a reception held in Ilaro for former PDP members who recently defected to the APC.
Explaining his decision, he likened the PDP to a “burning house,” arguing that remaining in the party amid its ongoing crisis would amount to political suicide.
“The party from where we left has collapsed. The umbrella is torn,” Ogundele said.
He added: “Regarding why I left PDP, I compared PDP to a burning house where no sane man will wait till the fire consumes him. What makes many state governors leave PDP, it will be suicidal if someone like me did not leave.”
Ogundele also dismissed controversy over the alleged indigene status of APC governorship candidate, Senator Solomon Adeola, popularly known as Yayi.
He described the controversy as a recurring feature of governorship contests in Ogun State and urged APC supporters to disregard claims questioning Adeola’s roots in the state.
“Please disregard the rumour of indigeneship against Yayi because in the history of choosing governorship candidates in Ogun State, there has always been crisis of such,” he said.
Ogundele cited former governors Olusegun Osoba, Gbenga Daniel and Ibikunle Amosun, claiming that similar questions had been raised about their origins before they emerged as governors.
He also criticised the PDP governorship candidate, Ladi Adebutu, alleging that Adebutu’s governorship ambition was driven by access to his family’s wealth rather than a genuine commitment to public service.
“Ladi Adebutu is a business person who has no interest in contesting the governorship, but only using his father’s money to gamble on our future,” he alleged.
The former PDP chairman further criticised members who have remained in the opposition party, maintaining that the ongoing defections reflect what he described as a deepening crisis within the PDP.
Reported by Akintade Samson
