Kola Balogun, the senator representing Oyo South Senatorial District, has resigned his membership of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Oyo State.
This is contained in a statement signed by his media aide Dapo Falade.
Balogun, a younger brother of the Olubadan of Ibadan, Oba Lekan Balogun, is the vice-chairman of the Senate Committee on Sports and Youth Development.
Balogun’s resignation came few days after he was denied a return ticket, further deepening the crisis in the Oyo PDP in which the state governor, Seyi Makinde, has been fingered.
The ticket had been handed to Joseph Tegbe, who defected to the PDP from All Progressives Congress (APC).
Balogun’s resignation from the PDP was contained in a letter dated April 28 and addressed to the chairman of the party in Ward 12, Ibadan North-East local government area.
He said the letter was received and acknowledged by the PDP ward chairman, Tijani Wasiu, on April 29.
He thanked the party for giving him the opportunity in the ninth Senate, saying his resignation took effect from April 28.
Balogun said he enjoyed the cooperation of the PDP leadership and its members till April and wished the party best of luck.
“I, Sen. Kola Balogun, representing Oyo South Senatorial District in the ninth Senate, Federal Republic of Nigeria, hereby tender my membership resignation from PDP with effect from April 28,” he stated in the letter. “I thank the party for giving me the opportunity to serve my people in the capacity of a senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and your cooperation which I enjoyed till the month of April 2022. I wish the party the best of luck. I thank you.”
Balogun was the only PDP senator from Oyo in the ninth senate until his resignation.
Balogun’s resignation from the PDP came less than 48 hours after scores of PDP and ADC leaders defected to the APC in the state.