A lawmaker in Oyo State, south western Nigeria, has left the Peoples Democratic Party and joined the African Democratic Congress.
Dawood Olalere, who represents Ibadan North West State Constituency in the Oyo State House of Assembly, announced his resignation in a letter dated Friday, February 13, 2026. The letter was addressed to the Chairman of Ward 7 of the Peoples Democratic Party in Ibadan North West Local Government Area. He stated that his resignation takes immediate effect.
Olalere explained that his decision was due to “long lingering and unresolvable division bedevilling the party.”
He later led many of his supporters to St. Patrick Primary School in Abebi area of Ibadan, the capital of Oyo State, where the state Chairman of the African Democratic Congress, Yinka Olona, received them into the party.
Speaking on his decision, Olalere said, “My choice of ADC is burn out of my desire and conviction for a better Nigeria.”
The Publicity Secretary of the African Democratic Congress in Oyo State, Bimbo Adelowo, said the development would strengthen the party ahead of the next 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.”
Olalere’s exit follows other high profile resignations from the Peoples Democratic Party in Oyo State. In October 2025, former Deputy Chief Whip of the Senate, Agboola Ayoola, resigned from the party. Ayoola had previously 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 senator elected on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party in the South West between 2011 and 2015.
Last week, Bisi Ilaka, a former Chief of Staff to Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State, also resigned from the party in a letter dated Tuesday, February 10, 2026.