The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) faced a new internal crisis on Monday when former Oyo State Commissioner for Works and Transport, Prof. Abdul‑Rahman Raphael Afonja, announced his resignation from the ruling party.
Afonja, who hails from Isale‑Afon in Ogbomoso, said he resigned from the PDP after extensive consultations with stakeholders and political associates across the state.
He explained that his decision stems from a lack of recognition for loyal members and the party’s failure to address internal injustices.
“I hope this act will prompt meaningful reflection and reforms before others feel compelled to follow my example,” he stated.
A scholar and former commissioner, Afonja noted that he set aside a senior academic appointment to serve with integrity and drive progress.
During his tenure, he said he instilled discipline, encouraged professional development, prioritized staff welfare, and championed teamwork and innovation, focusing on projects that would benefit Oyo State.
Even after his removal from office, Afonja claimed he continued to support the PDP, personally funding campaigns, mobilizing security agencies for free elections, and safeguarding ballot materials. He cited the 2023 general elections and the 2024 local government polls as examples, particularly his role in protecting the electoral process in Ogbomoso at personal risk and expense.
Prof. Afonja not only contributed to the 2023 and 2024 elections in Ogbomosho, but also campaigned for Governor Makinde in the Hausa‑speaking communities of Sabo—both in Ibadan and Ogbomosho—thanks to his fluency in Hausa.
Despite these efforts, he said he received no meaningful recognition—no political appointments, civil‑service placements, or routine party slots—while others who engaged in anti‑party activities or accepted money from the opposition were rewarded. He added that attempts at reconciliation and open dialogue were ignored.
The former commissioner however noted that he will decide his next course of action, either going back to focusing on his engineering business or returning to academics, but that would be after further consultation.
He added that his resignation is a call for the PDP to recognize loyal members and address the internal injustices that have emerged within the party.
Below is the statement:
“I write with a heavy heart and deep personal reflection to formally tender my resignation from the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), a party to which I have dedicated my time and efforts, effective immediately.
“My tenure as the Commissioner for Works and Transport in Oyo State was marked by solemn commitment and dedicated service. I made the conscious decision to set aside a top academic appointment to serve with integrity and drive real progress. During my time in office, I instilled discipline, encouraged professional development, prioritized staff welfare, and championed teamwork and innovation. My unwavering focus was on delivering projects and reforms that would genuinely benefit the people of Oyo State.
“Even after my removal from office, and throughout the 2023 general elections and 2024 local government elections, I prioritized the party’s success by personally funding campaigns, mobilizing security agencies to ensure free elections, and safeguarding ballot materials. These actions can be verified.
“During the local government election, I single-handedly safeguarded the electoral process in Ogbomosho: mobilizing my team and private security to deliver ballot materials safely to Oyo State Independent Electoral Commission (OYSIEC) office at significant personal risk and at my own expense, following intelligence indicating plans by miscreants to disrupt the process.
“While party support was never extended to me in meaningful ways, my loyalty remained steadfast. I was excluded from all forms of recognition-whether political appointments, civil service placements, or even routine party slots even though other members, some of whom
openly engaged in anti-party activities or collected money from the opposition, were rewarded in the current administration.
“Despite all this, I continued to support the party, often using my own resources for our collective success. I never asked for anything in return besides recognition and mutual respect.
“Attempts at reconciliation and open dialogue have been ignored.
“My departure is driven by a desire for the party to recognize its loyal members and address internal injustices, with the hope that this act prompts meaningful reflection and reforms before others feel compelled to follow my example.”
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