Grassroots Leader Idowu Daramola Defects from APC to Accord Seeking Mushin Seat Reversal

Former APC leader Idowu Daramola joins the Accord Party to contest for House of Reps in Mushin, citing marginalization and a lack of reward culture.

By: AXL Media

Published: Apr 8, 2026, 7:54 AM EDT

Source: Information for this report was sourced from Guardian Newspapers

Prominent Mobilizer Breaks with Ruling Party Over Marginalization

The political landscape of Lagos State has witnessed a significant shift as Idowu Daramola, a veteran of several major political cycles, formally ended his affiliation with the All Progressives Congress. Speaking with The Guardian, Daramola expressed deep frustration with the internal culture of the APC, specifically citing a perceived lack of reward for loyalists who drive grassroots mobilization. He argued that after years of dedicated service, including his recent leadership of the All4Bats group during the 2023 elections, he felt marginalized by the party hierarchy, prompting his decision to seek a platform more aligned with community interests.

Legacy of Grassroots Influence and Historical Mobilization

Daramola’s departure is notable due to his extensive history as a political organizer within the Mushin axis. He recounted a career that spans several decades, including contests under the Action Congress of Nigeria as early as 2003 and more recent efforts where he successfully moved over 5,000 delegates from the People's Democratic Party to the APC. By moving to the Accord Party, Daramola intends to leverage this deep local network to awaken the political consciousness of a constituency he believes has been neglected by the current administrative structures.

Strategic Appeal to Accord Party’s Historical Mushin Success

The choice of the Accord Party is a calculated move based on the organization’s historical performance in Mushin Constituency 1. Daramola pointed to the 2015 elections as a precedent, where the Accord Party successfully defeated an incumbent APC candidate to produce a federal representative. He maintains that the party is not a minor player in the region but an entrenched force that can effectively challenge the ruling party’s dominance if it remains focused on grassroots engagement and transparent community representation.