A former Minority Leader of the Ogun State House of Assembly, Hon. Lukman Adeleye, has disclosed that his defection from the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC) was driven by the need to escape what he described as a “Burning house,” insisting that remaining in the opposition party would have amounted to political suicide.
Speaking during an interview on Frontline, a current affairs programme on Eagle 102.5 FM, Ilese-Ijebu, Ogun State, on Monday, Adeleye said his decision, alongside other former PDP lawmakers, was the result of prolonged internal crises, factional disputes, and what he described as the collapse of ideological direction within the party.
“I have come to APC to escape the burning house so that I don’t get consumed in the inferno. I have come to APC to have a platform to continue to dish out democratic values to my people.
“If you are in a house that is burning and you struggle for survival by escaping, I do not think that is a sin. Political survival is part of the tenets of democracy. At the end of the day, we found out that the party had ended up in the hands of the former governor of Rivers State, who is now the FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike. The question that agitated the minds of many of us is that our political aspirations cannot be achieved under such a regime,” he said.
The lawmaker, who represents Odogbolu State Constituency, maintained that the decision to defect was not taken unilaterally but was a collective resolution by members of the minority caucus in the Assembly after extensive consultations and political evaluation.
He stressed that the move was carefully thought out and driven by the realities within the PDP, noting that members had reached a consensus after assessing the party’s declining strength. He added that their decision was not impulsive but followed a detailed review of political developments within and outside the state. To him, the objective was to secure a viable platform that would guarantee continued political relevance and effective representation for their constituents.
Smarting from the prolonged crises that forced him out of the PDP, Adeleye noted that the crisis within the PDP had persisted for years, gradually eroding the party’s cohesion and electoral strength. He recalled that internal wranglings, litigations, and leadership disputes had made it increasingly difficult for members to operate effectively.
These issues, he said, created divisions among stakeholders and weakened the party’s internal structure. Over time, the inability to resolve these conflicts contributed significantly to the decision of many members to leave the party.
“Since 2019, we have been battling one crisis or another. We thought it was just an internal wrangling that would soon be resolved, but unfortunately, it kept getting worse. We went through litigation, Supreme Court battles, and even after the 2023 elections, the crisis persisted. We got to a point where even the national convention was nullified by the court. We went to the Court of Appeal, and we also lost. At that stage, it became clear that the party was no longer stable,” he said.
Commenting on the insinuations and allegations that he collected money before defecting to the ruling APC, Adeoye said, “To God who made me, I, Hon. Lukman Adeleye Olalekan, did not receive any kobo.
“The other members and I did not take a dime. This is not material-driven; it has nothing to do with money. This is very lazy and cheap propaganda. Our decision is driven by political realities and the need to remain relevant”, he stated.
Adeleye also clarified that his defection to the APC was not based on any promise of an automatic return ticket or electoral favour, insisting that he and his colleagues are prepared to undergo the party’s internal selection processes.
He explained that while there is confidence in the recognition of their political strength and contributions, no formal assurance was given regarding candidacy.
