A lawmaker representing Ibadan North-West State Constituency at the Oyo State House of Assembly, Dawood Olalere, on Monday, officially resigned his membership from the Peoples Democratic Party and joined the African Democratic Congress in the state.
In a letter dated February 13, 2026, and addressed to the Chairman of Ward 7, PDP, Ibadan North-West Local Government Area of the state, a copy of which was obtained by The PUNCH, on Monday, in Ibadan, the state capital, said his decision to leave the party takes immediate effect.
Olalere attributed his resignation to what he described as “long lingering and unresolvable division bedevilling the party.”
The PUNCH reports that a former Deputy Chief Whip of the Senate, Agboola Ayoola, also resigned from the PDP in October 2025.
Ayoola, from the Itesiwaju Local Government Area, formally announced his resignation in a letter dated Friday, October 10, 2025, ending a long association with the party.
Ayoola served as Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs under former governors Rashidi Ladoja and the late Adebayo Alao-Akala between 2003 and 2011.
He was also the only PDP senator elected in the South-West from 2011 to 2015.
Also last week, a former Chief of Staff to Governor Seyi Makinde and chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party in the state, Bisi Ilaka, officially resigned his membership of the party.
In his resignation letter dated Tuesday, February 10, a copy of which was obtained by The PUNCH, Ilaka thanked the PDP for the platform it provided him to serve at both state and national levels.
However, Olalere further noted that the move was in his best interest, aligned with his personal values, and in consideration of the interests of his supporters.
He, therefore, led scores of his teeming supporters to St. Patrick Primary School, Abebi, Ibadan, where the ADC state Chairman, Yinka Olona, officially received them.
Olalere said, “My choice of ADC is burn out of my desire and conviction for a better Nigeria.”
The state Publicity Secretary of ADC, Bimbo Adelowo, said the implication of the defection for the party is that it would not only boost the membership strength of the party but would also show the seriousness of the party in the coming general election.
He said, “The state Chairman, Yinka Olona recieved Dawood Olalere, the current member of the state House of Assembly representing Ibadan North-West State Constituency, into ADC today, Monday, February 16.
“With the defection, the party membership strength has received a boost as well as a seat at the State House of Assembly.”