PDP Chieftain Threatens Recall of Osun Lawmaker Wole Oke Over Defection to APC

The political atmosphere in Osun State has been thrown into turmoil following the defection of Hon. Wole Oke, the member representing Oriade/Obokun Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives, from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC). Oke, a fifth-term lawmaker, formally announced his exit from the PDP in a letter dated April 16, 2025, addressed to the PDP Ward 7 Chairman in Obokun Local Government Area.

Appearing on a radio programme aired on Rave FM, a private Osogbo-based station, Oke delivered a scathing assessment of the PDP’s political prospects in his constituency. He declared that the party would lose future elections in the Oriade and Obokun local governments, arguing that Governor Ademola Adeleke’s appointees lacked the political influence and resources to prosecute any successful campaign.

Odeyemi Demands Resignation and By-Election

Reacting strongly to Oke’s comments, a former Deputy National Publicity Secretary of the PDP, Mr. Diran Odeyemi, condemned the defection and challenged the lawmaker to resign his current seat, which he secured on the PDP’s platform in 2023. In a statement issued shortly after Oke’s radio interview, Odeyemi said it was only right that Oke relinquishes the mandate and recontest under his new party to gauge his actual popularity among the electorate.

“We thank him. But on behalf of the PDP leaders of thought, I want to challenge him to resign his current mandate, which ends in 2027 today, and ask INEC to conduct fresh elections in our federal constituency,” Odeyemi stated. “If Wole Oke fails to take up this challenge, I am telling the whole world that the voters in Oriade/Obokun Federal Constituency will immediately commence his recall process. The coming months will reveal his true worth to his new friends.”

PDP Labels Oke a Liability, Not a Loss

Odeyemi further asserted that the PDP had suffered no political damage from Oke’s exit, describing him as a burden rather than an asset. He accused the lawmaker of sabotaging the PDP from within, alleging that Oke had been covertly supporting the APC while still benefiting from the PDP’s platform.

“Oke has been a mole all along in the PDP by financing APC and revealing our plans to the opposition camps,” Odeyemi declared. “We gain more by offloading a political liability dragging us back. We remain strong and committed to returning Governor Adeleke to office next year by the grace of God.”

This characterization underscores the deepening rift between the state’s PDP leadership and its former federal representative, signaling a broader internal reckoning within the party ahead of upcoming elections.

Oke Responds with APC Defection Videos

In a swift and measured response, Hon. Wole Oke dismissed Odeyemi’s remarks without a verbal rebuttal. Instead, he took to social media and other digital platforms to release two videos showing PDP members from Obokun Local Government Area publicly defecting to the APC. The footage included scenes from APC ward meetings in Ibokun—Odeyemi’s hometown—and Ilare, where former Peoples Democratic Party loyalists pledged allegiance to their new party.

In the Ibokun video, a speaker stated in Yoruba, “We appreciate you for accepting us into the APC. In the elections coming in 2026 and 2027, APC will win in all LGs in Osun and across the country.” The visual demonstration of grassroots support served as a symbolic counterattack to Odeyemi’s claims, portraying Oke as a mobilizing force within his new political camp.

Implications for 2026 and 2027 Elections

The defection of Wole Oke and the ensuing war of words between prominent political figures signal a turbulent road ahead for both the PDP and APC in Osun State. With the 2026 gubernatorial election and the 2027 general elections approaching, the contest for control of Oriade/Obokun constituency may serve as a critical battleground.

Analysts believe the threat of a recall, if realized, could test the unity and electoral readiness of both parties. For the PDP, it is a matter of reclaiming loyalty and sealing internal cracks. For the APC, Oke’s defection provides a boost, but the challenge lies in converting his political capital into electoral victories. In the meantime, the political drama continues to unfold, with Osun voters watching closely.