The Ondo State House of Assembly has officially become an all–All Progressives Congress (APC) legislature following the defection of the last two opposition lawmakers from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the ruling party.
The lawmakers, Hon. Oladiji Oguntudo (Akure South Constituency I) and Hon. Raymond Oluwatoyin Daodu, who also served as the Deputy Minority Leader representing Akoko South West Constituency I, announced their defection during Thursday’s plenary session in Akure.
Their defection, confirmed by the Speaker, Rt. Hon. Olamide Oladiji, brings the total number of APC lawmakers in the 26-member Assembly to 26, effectively eliminating any formal opposition within the legislative chamber.
The development comes just a month after both lawmakers tendered their resignations from the PDP, citing internal wrangling, leadership disputes, and what they described as “irreconcilable differences” within the party’s state structure.
In their separate letters to the House, Oguntudo and Daodu said the decision followed wide consultations with their families, constituents, and political associates, who advised them to align with the ruling party for the sake of continuity and development in their constituencies.
Reacting to the announcement, Speaker Oladiji congratulated the defectors, describing their move as a welcome reinforcement of the APC’s political dominance in the state legislature. He said their entry would “further strengthen the unity and effectiveness” of the Assembly in supporting Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa’s administration.
The Speaker also commended President Bola Tinubu for his leadership at the national level, noting that his policies have continued to inspire confidence among lawmakers and political stakeholders across the country.
With Thursday’s development, the Ondo State House of Assembly becomes a one-party legislature, positioning the APC as the sole political force steering legislative affairs in the state ahead of the next election cycle.
