PDP Drags Four Osun Lawmakers to Court Over Defection to APC

The People’s Democratic Party (PDP) has filed four separate suits at the Federal High Court, Abuja, seeking the removal of two senators and two members of the House of Representatives from Osun State who recently defected to the All Progressives Congress (APC).

The suits, filed on August 20, 2025, by the party’s counsel, Raphael Oyewole, are challenging the continued stay of the lawmakers in the National Assembly after abandoning the PDP—the platform under which they were elected.

Lawmakers Involved

The affected lawmakers include:

• Senator Francis Fadahunsi (Osun East)
• Senator Olubiyi Oluwole Fadeyi (Osun Central)
• Rep. Omirin Olusanya (Atakumosa East/West and Ilesa East/West)
• Rep. Taofeek Ajilesoro (Ife Central/East/North and South)

The suits are registered as FHC/ABJ/CS/1725/2025, FHC/ABJ/CS/1728/2025, FHC/ABJ/CS/1727/2025, and FHC/ABJ/CS/1726/2025, with each lawmaker named as the primary defendant.

The Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, and the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abbas, are joined as second defendants in the respective cases. The National Assembly, its Clerk, and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) are also listed as co-defendants.

PDP’s Demands

The PDP is urging the court to interpret Section 68(1)(g) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), which mandates lawmakers to vacate their seats if they defect from the party that sponsored their election—except in cases of division, merger, or factionalization within the party.

Specifically, the PDP is seeking:

• A declaration that the lawmakers’ continued stay in office is unconstitutional.
• An order of mandamus compelling the Senate President and Speaker to declare the seats vacant.
• A directive to INEC to conduct bye-elections to fill the affected constituencies.
• An order stopping payment of salaries, allowances, and benefits to the lawmakers.
• A mandate for the lawmakers to refund all earnings received since their defection.

The party stressed that its demands are fully grounded in Sections 68(1)(g) and (2) of the Constitution.

Related Development

In a parallel case, the Osun State PDP recently dragged Rep. Oluwole Oke (Obokun/Oriade Federal Constituency) before Justice Emeka Nwite of the same court over his defection to the APC, citing the same constitutional provision.

The four new suits are yet to be assigned to a judge for hearing.