The political map of the Ogun State House of Assembly has been redrawn following its transition to a one-party legislature.
What began in 2023 as a competitive chamber divided between 17 All Progressive Congress and 9 Peoples Democratic Party members is now an entire APC house, leaving the opposition party with zero representation in the state’s legislative chambers.
This happened following the defection of the final six members of the PDP to the ruling APC.
The first crack appeared in November 2023 following a legal battle over the Ikenne State Constituency
The Court of Appeal sitting in Lagos nullified the election of Babajide Owoduni (PDP), who represented the constituency.
Recall that 12 days before the election, Owoduni resigned from the PDP and withdrew from the contest in letters delivered to the PDP and INEC.
He also swore an affidavit of his withdrawal from the race at the Ogun State High Court and in an effort to replace him, PDP wrote to INEC but they rejected the replacement, kept Owodunni as the recognized candidate, and subsequently issued him a certificate of return.
Owodunni told the tribunal that he was abducted and coerced into signing the affidavit and withdrawal letters.
However, Counsel for Olakunle Sobukanla and the APC presented evidence contrary to his claim, showing that Owodunni was openly endorsing the APC following his withdrawal from the contest.
The appellate court in the appeal with suit number CA/1B/EP/SHA/OG/23/2023 Hon Olakunle Sobukanla & Anor v. INEC & 2 Ors directed the Independent National Electoral Commission to issue Sobukola Certificate of Return as the duly elected member representing Ikenne State Constituency in the State House of Assembly, thereby reducing the PDP count to eight.
