The All Progressives Congress (APC) Ward 09 in Oke-Iserin, Igboora, Oyo State, has expelled a three-term former member of the House of Representatives, Dr. Saubana Ajibola Muraina. This decision was made after an emergency executive meeting held in Igboora, where the ward executives accused Muraina of abandoning the APC for the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) after losing the APC ticket for the federal constituency ahead of the 2027 election.
Muraina, who represented Ibarapa Central/Ibarapa North Federal Constituency in the House, is now the PDP candidate for the constituency in the 2027 general elections. The election is scheduled for January 16, 2027. His defection from the APC to the PDP was reported in July, following his loss of the APC ticket to Olaoniye Sarafa Olaito. Alongside Muraina, another APC chieftain, Soliu Lawal Adelodun, had also defected to the PDP.
The ward leadership accused Muraina of continuing to parade himself as an APC member despite his defection. They described this alleged conduct as capable of causing confusion and division within the party at ward and local government levels. According to the APC Constitution, as amended, Muraina's actions contravened Article 21(A)(ii), (v), and (x), which provide sanctions for anti-party activities and conduct capable of bringing the party into disrepute.
The ward executives announced Muraina's immediate expulsion in a joint statement signed by the Ward Chairman, Mr. Fasasi Mustapha, and the Ward Secretary, Mr. Afolabi Abiodun. The statement read in part: "Consequently, Hon Dr Saubana Ajibola Muraina is hereby expelled from the All Progressives Congress (APC), Ward 09, Oke-Iserin, Igboora." This expulsion implies that Muraina ceases to be a member of the APC at ward, local government, state, and national levels.
The formal expulsion notice has been transmitted through the local government party chairman to the Oyo State APC chairman for ratification. The notice will subsequently be forwarded to the APC National Working Committee (NWC) in Abuja for final action. This move signifies the party's effort to enforce its internal regulations and maintain party unity.
Muraina had previously won elections to the National Assembly in 2007, 2011, and 2019. He later defected from the PDP to the APC in 2022 and contested the 2023 House of Representatives election on the APC platform. His recent defection to the PDP and subsequent expulsion from the APC mark a significant shift in his political career.
The expulsion of Muraina from the APC may have implications for the party's performance in the 2027 general elections, particularly in the Ibarapa Central/Ibarapa North Federal Constituency. As the PDP candidate, Muraina will now focus on securing the seat under his new party. The development highlights the ongoing dynamics within Nigeria's political landscape, where party loyalties and defections play crucial roles in shaping electoral outcomes.
Key points
- Oyo APC ward expels three-term ex-lawmaker Muraina over defection to PDP
- Muraina is now the PDP candidate for the Ibarapa Central/Ibarapa North Federal Constituency in the 2027 general elections
- The expulsion was due to Muraina's alleged anti-party activities and defection to the PDP after losing the APC ticket
