Five Ondo PDP leaders dump party over alleged leadership failure, threats
By Julius Alabi, Akure
The crisis rocking the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Ondo State deepened on Friday as five principal officers of the party in Akure tendered their resignation, citing leadership failure, greed, and manipulation by party leaders.
Those who resigned include Aare Abiodun, a former House of Assembly aspirant and vice-chairmanship candidate for Akure East LCDA; Mr. Omolade Folorusho, vice chairman of PDP Oda Ward Six; Mr. Igbadieye Omoniyi, secretary; Mr. Tope Balogun, youth leader; and Mr. Ajayi Sunday, ex-officio member.
In a jointly signed resignation letter dated August 29, 2025, and addressed to the ward’s caretaker chairman, the leaders accused party officials of turning the ward structure into a “private estate” of a few individuals.
“Our decision to quit the party is not unconnected to the high-handedness, greed and manipulation from you and the former State Executive Officer of the party from this ward, Alhaji Abduganiyu Oludare Ogbera, who has allowed himself to be used to reduce the party in the ward to a private property of a select few,” the letter partly read.
They alleged that repeated attempts to seek intervention from party leaders at the local government level were ignored, particularly on the controversial composition of ward executive officers, which they claimed was done without broader consultation.
The group further decried alleged intimidation, name-calling, and threats to life, stressing that the toxic atmosphere made it impossible for them to remain in the party
However, speaking on the development, Aare Abiodun Oluwarotimi alleged that he and his colleagues faced open threats at a reconciliation meeting in Ijapo on Thursday.
According to him, a lawmaker representing Akure South Constituency One in the Ondo State House of Assembly, Mr. Jide Oguntodu, allegedly warned that any attempt to alter the ward executive list he submitted to the party “would result in a bloody crisis.”
It would be recalled that the latest resignation adds to a growing list of defections from PDP in Oda Ward Six. In the last six months, several notable members, including Hon. Niran Oladayiye, Hon. Gbenga Wande Bamidele, and Mr. Dowole Isaac, have left the party over similar grievances.
