By Felix Durumbah, Abuja
The fortunes of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Oyo State dipped badly on Monday with the resignation of a pillar of the party and former Minister of State, Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Oloye Olajumoke Akinjide.
She served as Minister of State alongside Sen. Bala Mohammed, who was FCT Minister. Mohammed is now Governor of Bauchi State.
Both served during the President Goodluck Jonathan administration.
In a letter to the Chairman, Ward 1, Ona Ara Local Government (LG), Ibadan, Oyo State, dated Monday, 30 March, 2026, and personally signed by her, Akinjide stated that she was resigning “immediately.”
A close associate of the former Minister, Alhaji Kehinde Olaosebikan, confirmed to People&Politics that Oloye Akinjide would be joining the All Progressives Congress (APC) next.
If so, it would be a massive Easter gift to the opposition APC, which has reportedly put its house in order and is seriously gearing up to remove the PDP from power in the vital South-West state.
Oloye Akinjide’s six-paragraph letter titled ‘Letter Of Resignation From The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)’, obtained by People&Politics, stated, in full: “I hereby formally give you notice of my resignation as a member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), effective immediately.
“The decision was not taken lightly, given the fact that I have been a member of the party since 2001.
“I came to this difficult decision after a long period of personal reflection.
“I am grateful for the opportunity to have been a member of the party and the experiences and relationships built during my time as a member of the party.
“I appreciate the platform provided for political office and engagement, and I wish the party success in the future.
“Thank you.”
Apparently rejoicing over her exit from PDP, Olaosebikan described the former Minister as “very powerful, influential, and generous; the most popular Minister from Oyo State so far. She is a great organiser and top-notch mobilizer. She is exceptional. She is a great asset.”
Oloye Akinjide, who holds LL.Hons (London), LL.M (Harvard), B.L., and FCI Arb., is the daughter of Second Republic Minister of Justice and Attorney General of the Federation, Chief Richard Akinjide SAN.
Olajumoke Akinjide, also known as Jumoke Akinjide, was born on 4 August 1959 in Ibadan, Ona Ara LG.
Between May 2001 and September 2003, she served as the Special Assistant (SA) to the President on FCT Matters and later as SA to the President on G77 Matters and Nigerians in Diaspora (NIDO) under the then-President Olusegun Obasanjo.
She is described also as a grassroots politician and was a candidate for the Senate seat, Oyo Central Senatorial District on the PDP platform in 2011, the same year she was appointed Minister by then-President Jonathan.
*PHOTO CAPTION: Oloye Akinjide.
