The political scene in Ogun State is heating up again as Adekunle Abdulkabir Akinlade resigns from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). The PDP has reacted sharply, claiming that his resignation simply confirms his long-standing loyalty to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).

Akinlade, who was the PDP’s deputy governorship candidate in the 2023 elections, announced his exit from the party on Monday. In his statement, he blamed the departure on constant and unresolved issues within the PDP that, according to him, damaged the party’s vision of being inclusive and forward-looking.

But the Ogun PDP wasn’t having it. Party spokesman Kayode Adebayo said they had nothing to lose. He claimed that Akinlade had already aligned himself with the APC even before the election and played no active role in the party’s campaigns or election activities.

Adebayo also said that Akinlade’s resignation was expected, accusing him of secretly working to divide the PDP after their loss in court. He described Akinlade as a “Judas” who worked with a few dishonest people to weaken the party. According to him, even in Akinlade’s local government area, Ipokia, the PDP performed poorly despite heavy investments in the election there.

The PDP believes Akinlade’s exit is actually a relief. They say the party is now in a rebuilding phase and encouraged others in his group to leave if they don’t share the party’s new direction.

In response, Akinlade’s team fired back. His media consultant, Akinleye Olu-Philips, said PDP’s statement was just another example of the party refusing to take responsibility for its own problems. He said Akinlade left the party because of ongoing fights, disorganization, and failure to follow party rules.

He defended Akinlade’s reputation, calling him a loyal and strong political figure. He rejected claims that Akinlade secretly supported the APC and said instead that his influence helped the PDP in the 2023 election. Olu-Philips also claimed that the PDP’s poor results were due to internal betrayal and weak leadership—not Akinlade’s actions.

He ended by saying Akinlade isn’t desperate for attention and that any party would be lucky to have a leader with his planning skills and political experience. He advised the PDP to stop blaming others and instead reflect on its own mistakes and rebuild.