PDP Moves to Sack Four Osun Lawmakers Over Defection to APC

The political battle for Osun State’s soul shifted to the judiciary today as the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) approached the Federal High Court, Abuja, seeking the removal of four federal lawmakers from the state who recently defected to the All Progressives Congress (APC).

The affected lawmakers are Senator Francis Adenigba Fadahunsi (Osun East), Senator Olubiyi Oluwole Fadeyi (Osun Central), Hon. Omirin Emmanuel Olusanya (Atakumosa East/West and Ilesa East/West Federal Constituency), and Hon. Taofeek Abimbola Ajilesoro (Ife Federal Constituency).

In four separate suits filed through its lead counsel, Raphael Oyewole, the PDP insisted that the legislators, who won their mandates on its platform, have no constitutional basis to retain their seats after dumping the party.

The Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, and the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abbas, were listed as second defendants in the suits.

The National Assembly, its Clerk, and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) were also joined.

Citing Section 68(1)(g) of the 1999 Constitution, the PDP maintained that since there is no division or merger within the party to justify the defections, the four lawmakers’ seats have become vacant by operation of law.

The party urged the court to order Akpabio and Abbas to declare the seats vacant and mandate INEC to conduct by-elections. It also sought an order compelling the Clerk of the National Assembly to stop all payments of salaries and allowances to the defectors and for the lawmakers to refund all monies collected since their defection.

The originating summons, marked FHC/ABJ/CS/1725/2025 through FHC/ABJ/CS/1728/2025, were filed on August 20 and are awaiting assignment to a judge.

Recall that only last month, the Osun PDP dragged Hon. Oluwole Oke (Obokun/Oriade) before the same court for defecting to the APC, insisting it would continue to invoke the constitutional provisions against cross-carpeting.