By: Lauretta Fagbohun, Abeokuta.

A former Deputy Minority Leader of the Ogun State House of Assembly, Hon. Lukman Atobatele, has defected from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC), citing persistent internal crises and lack of clear ideological direction within the opposition party.

Atobatele, who represents Abeokuta South State Constituency I, formally announced his defection on Tuesday through a letter read on the floor of the House during plenary by the Speaker, Rt. Hon. Oludaisi Elemide.

In the letter, the lawmaker attributed his decision to unresolved leadership disputes, internal wrangling, and the absence of a coherent vision within the PDP at both the national and state levels. He stressed that his move was motivated by the need to better serve the interests of his constituents.

According to him, joining the APC would enable him to collaborate more effectively with the state government in delivering good governance and advancing the development agenda of Abeokuta South State Constituency I.

“As the representative of my constituency, my priority is to ensure that my people benefit from good governance. Joining the APC will allow me to collaborate more effectively with the government and advance the development agenda of my constituency,” the letter stated.

Responding, Speaker Elemide expressed hope that Atobatele’s stay in his new party would justify the reasons he advanced for his defection, adding that members of the House, irrespective of party affiliation, remained united as one legislative family committed to harmony and the overall development of Ogun State.

The defection came shortly after a former PDP member from Ijebu North, Rasheed Kashamu, also dumped the party for the APC.

Meanwhile, in a related development, the Ogun State House of Assembly commiserated with British-Nigerian boxing champion, Anthony Joshua, and other affected families over a fatal road accident that claimed two lives along the Lagos-Abeokuta Expressway at Makun Junction.