Ogun State Governor Dapo Abiodun on Wednesday launched a scathing attack on the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), declaring it an “empty shell” and taunting its members as “Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs)” seeking refuge after a wave of defections to the All Progressives Congress (APC). Nigerian Tribune reports.
Abiodun made these remarks that the opposition party nationwide is an empty shell in Abeokuta during a reception organised to formally welcome several prominent PDP figures into the APC in the state.
Among the high-profile defectors were Adekunle Akinlade, who served as the PDP’s Deputy Governorship Candidate in the last election; Dr. Sikirullahi Ogundele, the immediate past state chairman of the PDP; and Lukman Atobatele, the Deputy Minority Leader of the State House of Assembly.
“PDP nationwide has become an empty shell. As a matter of fact, they have been referred to as Internally Displaced Persons (IDP). They are looking for IDP camps. They went to SDP, they were not accommodated, ditto to the ADC. They are still displaced,” Governor Abiodun stated, taking a direct swipe at the opposition.
The governor expressed his satisfaction at the new members joining the APC, telling them, “I am glad that you (new APC members) have chosen to come back to where you did belong.”
He also re-echoed a statement made earlier by Dr. Ogundele at the event, asserting that “every responsible member of PDP in Ogun State” has now left the party.
Abiodun welcomed the defectors, whom he described as “politicians with progressive-thinking,” and assured them of all rights and privileges due to party members and leaders.
Adekunle Akinlade, who had previously run for governorship on the Allied Peoples Movement (APM) platform in 2019 before joining the PDP as deputy governorship candidate in 2023, thanked Governor Abiodun for accepting them back.
He pledged their “absolute loyalty” to the governor and the APC, promising to work collaboratively for the party’s success. Akinlade’s defection to APC was reported earlier in June 2025, citing “persistent and unresolved internal crises” within the PDP.
