PDP National Secretary, Arapaja Reportedly Dumps Party

The National Secretary of the Seyi Makinde-backed and Kabiru Turaki faction of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Taofeek Arapaja, has reportedly resigned from the party.

Arapaja met with the Oyo State All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate, Sharafadeen Alli, on Tuesday ahead of his planned defection to the All Progressives Congress (APC).

Arapaja, in a post on his Facebook page, wrote, “Today, I had a private meeting with my dear brother and political associate, distinguished Senator Sarafadeen Abiodun Alli, who is also the gubernatorial candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), in Oyo State, in Abuja. Also with us at the meeting were his running mate, Hon. Soji Michael Adedeji, and Hon. Aderemi Oseni, who is presently representing Ido/Ibarapa East Federal constituency and APC senatorial candidate for Oyo South.

“We had a robust discussion and fruitful conversation that centred on the unity, development and overall progress and welfare of the people in our dear pace setter state.”

According to Daily Post, Arapaja reportedly met with President Bola Tinubu as part of consultations over his proposed move to the ruling party.

The former Oyo State deputy governor was also a former National Deputy Chairman, South, of the PDP.

Sokoto Ex-PDP Governorship Candidate Defects To APC

In other news, former PDP governorship candidate in the 2023 Sokoto State election, Sa’idu Umar Ubandoma, has defected to the APC.

Naija News reports that Ubandoma, a former ally of ex-Sokoto State governor, Senator Aminu Waziri Tambuwal, was formally received into the APC by the party’s leader in Sokoto State, Senator Aliyu Magatakarda Wamakko, at his residence in Asokoro, Abuja.

The development was announced on Tuesday in a statement issued by Wamakko’s Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Bashar Abubakar.

Ubandoma served in key positions during the Tambuwal administration, including Commissioner for Finance and, later, Secretary to the Sokoto State Government. He was also the PDP governorship candidate in the 2023 general election.

Explaining his decision to dump the PDP for the APC, Ubandoma said he was influenced by what he described as Wamakko’s leadership style, political maturity and inclusive approach.