Wole Oke’s Defection Deepens PDP’s Wounds: Erin Ijesa Collapse Signals Party’s Bleakest Hour
……A wave of political defections continues as two former party chairmen have now aligned themselves with Wole Oke, further intensifying the ongoing exodus from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Osun State.
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Osun State has been dealt a devastating blow as Hon. Wole Oke, a veteran lawmaker and one of its most prominent figures, abandoned the party for the All Progressives Congress (APC), taking with him not just his personal influence but the entire grassroots structure of Erin Ijesa. In a humiliating spectacle for the PDP, two former ward chairmen and Women Leader collapsed the party left some chaffs.
Mr Fatoki Dare Ekweme and Mr Ola publicly declared the PDP “shut down” in Erin Ijesa, leading an exodus of supporters and leaving the party’s local machinery in ruins. “This isn’t politics as usual; this is a statement,” said Mr Fatoki. “The PDP in Erin Ijesa is no more. We’ve shut it down.”
Party insiders describe Oke’s exit as the climax of a “marathon of political abandonment”, with the PDP’s internal fractures now fully exposed.
The defection has left the PDP reeling, as the ripple effects are being felt across the Oriade axis and beyond. Locals say this is no longer a switch; it’s a total dismantling of the PDP’s grassroots machinery in a zone once considered a stronghold.
Hon. Wole Oke’s defection marks the climax of a series of high-profile exits that have rocked the PDP in recent weeks. With his immense political capital, years of constituency influence, and deep loyalty networks, insiders say his departure is nothing short of catastrophic for the party in Osun.
Political observers warn that if this trend continues, the PDP may be headed for an electoral collapse in key local governments unless drastic internal reforms are made.
“This isn’t just defection; it’s a marathon of political abandonment. The PDP is bleeding from the inside, and the haemorrhage may be fatal if not stopped,” a political analyst commented.
With 2026 around the corner, one question now echoes across Osun: Who’s next?
