The National Secretary of the Seyi Makinde-backed and Turaki faction of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Taofeek Arapaja, has dumped the party.

Following his resignation from the party, Arapaja met with the Oyo State All Progressives Congress, APC governorship candidate, Sharafadeen Alli ahead of his defection to the APC.

Arapaja had reportedly met with President Bola Tinubu as consultations over his proposed defection into the APC.

He is a former deputy governor of Oyo State and National Deputy Chairman (South) of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP.

At the time of filing this report, Governor Makinde has not made any comment on the development.

The Board of Trustees, BoT, of the Turaki led Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, has debunked reports alleging that some of its candidates were planning legal action against the party leadership under the chairmanship of Kabiru Tanimu Turaki, SAN. describing the claim as false.

This was contained in a statement issued on Tuesday by the party’s Interim National Publicity Secretary, Comrade Ini Ememobong.

In addition to the statement, the party also announced that its suit seeking an order compelling the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC,

to recognise the party’s Interim National Working Committee, NWC, has been adjourned for judgment.

The PDP said the matter came up for hearing earlier in the day, with counsel to all parties adopting their respective processes before the court.

The court subsequently adjourned the case for judgment on a date yet to be communicated.

The statement reads in full “Earlier today, the case instituted by the Board of Trustees of the Peoples Democratic Party, @OfficialPDPNig seeking an order directing the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to recognise the Interim National Working Committee constituted by the National Executive Committee (NEC) of the Party, came up for hearing before the court.

“Following the adoption of their respective processes by counsel to all the parties, the matter was adjourned for judgment on a date to be communicated by the court.

“In a related development, we have become aware of rumours alleging that some candidates of our Party are threatening to institute legal action against the leadership of the Party under the chairmanship of Kabiru Tanimu Turaki, SAN.

“These rumours are entirely false and are nothing more than the product of mischief. There has not been a single complaint, let alone any threat of legal action, by any of our candidates. On the contrary, all the Party’s candidates have remained in constant communication with the leadership and are regularly briefed on ongoing developments.

“We therefore urge the public, particularly media organisations and journalists, to disregard these false reports and rely only on information communicated through the official channels of the Peoples Democratic Party.

“Such rumours are being propagated by ill-wishers and PDP pretenders, who are APC apologists, in a desperate attempt to mislead the public and create unnecessary confusion.”

Nasarawa South senator, Ogoshi Onawo, has dumped the African Democratic Congress, ADC, for the Allied Peoples Movement, APM, less than two weeks after joining the party.

His letter of defection was read at the plenary on Tuesday by the Deputy Senate President, Jibrin Barau.

The lawmaker, in the letter, said he resigned his membership of the ADC in Galadima Ward, Doma Local Government Area of Nasarawa State, with effect from June 15.

Onawo disclosed that the decision followed extensive consultations with his constituents, political associates and other key stakeholders.

“This decision is the outcome of careful reflection and wide-ranging consultations with my constituents, political associates, and other critical stakeholders,” the letter read.

According to him, the move was necessitated by the internal challenges facing the ADC.

“It is driven by my firm belief that the prevailing circumstances within the current party structure and the endless legal battle it is currently embroiled in no longer offer the cohesion, support, and enabling environment required for me to focus squarely on effectively representing my constituents and to fully realise the development and progressive mandate they entrusted me.

“However, I now happily join the Allied Peoples Movement, APM. I am grateful for the trust and cooperation I have received from my supporters and well-wishers through this journey,” he added.

DAILY POST reports that his defection came only weeks after he left the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, for the ADC.

He was among nine senators who announced their defection to the ADC during a Senate plenary presided over by Senate President Godswill Akpabio on March 12.