According to TVC News, the former gubernatorial candidate of the PDP announced his defection at a press conference in Lagos.

Obanikoro ran for the seat of Governor of Lagos under the umbrella of the PDP in 2007 but lost to current Minister of Power, Works and Housing, Babatunde Fashola.

He also lost the party primaries for the gubernatorial election in 2015 to Jimi Agbaje who lost to eventual winner Akinwunmi Ambode of the APC.