By James Ogunnaike, Abeokuta

A member of Ogun State House of Assembly, representing Ijebu North State Constituency, Hon. Rasheed Kashamu, has defected from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), citing deepening internal crises and irreconcilable differences within the opposition party.

Kashamu’s defection was formally announced on the floor of the House on Monday during plenary, following the reading of his letter by the Speaker, Rt. Hon. Oludaisi Elemide.

Reading Kashamu’s letter today at the plenary, the Speaker, Rt. Hon. Oludaisi Elemide said the lawmaker formally notified the House of his resignation from the People’s Democratic Party and his decision to join the APC, citing factional disputes at the national level and leadership tussle at the State level as reasons for his defection.

Kashamu, former Minority Whip of the State House of Assembly, in the letter, attributed his decision to join APC to persistent factional disputes at the national level of the PDP and unresolved leadership tussles in Ogun State, which he said had polarised the party and undermined its cohesion.

He said, he had resolved to align with the APC in order to support the policies and programmes of Governor Dapo Abiodun under the ISEYA agenda, as well as the Renewed Hope agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

“After a careful review of the state of affairs of the PDP at the national level, marked by factions and unresolved leadership crises, and in consultation with my leaders and teeming supporters in Ijebu North I, we agreed to move en masse into the APC,” he said.

Kashamu added that the decision was informed by his desire to sustain the pro-people legacy that earned him the mandate of his constituents and to contribute meaningfully to governance in the state.

He disclosed that he had already formally joined the APC at his Oke-Sopen Ward in Ijebu-Igbo, Ijebu North Local Government Area, alongside supporters drawn from across the constituency.

“I have since joined the APC at my ward in Oke Sopen, Ijebu Igbo, Ijebu North Local Government Area of Ogun State”.

Following the announcement, the Speaker and other lawmakers formally welcomed Kashamu into the APC fold at the Assembly Complex in Oke-Mosan, Abeokuta, with his wife, uncle and other well-wishers in attendance.