KEY POINTS
- Six House of Representatives members from Oyo State have defected from the PDP to the Allied Peoples Movement (APM).
- The lawmakers, loyal to Governor Seyi Makinde, cited internal crisis and leadership disputes in the PDP as reasons for their move.
- The defections form part of wider political shifts in the House, with multiple lawmakers switching parties across Nigeria.
Six members of the House of Representatives from Oyo State have officially defected from the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, to the Allied Peoples Movement (APM), marking a significant political realignment within the state’s federal caucus.
The development was announced on Tuesday during plenary when Speaker of the House, Tajudeen Abbas, read out multiple letters of defection submitted by lawmakers across different political parties.
The move is seen as a major boost for Governor Seyi Makinde, whose political influence is believed to have shaped the decision of the lawmakers to switch allegiance ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The lawmakers who defected include Anthony Adebayo, Adedeji Olajide, Sunday Makanjuola, Oyedeji Oyeshina, Fola Oyekunle, and Adigun Adekunle.
In their letters, the legislators cited prolonged internal crises and leadership struggles within the PDP as the primary reason for leaving the party.
They noted that the instability within the opposition party had made it difficult to pursue their political ambitions effectively, prompting their decision to align with a new platform.
Makinde’s Influence Shapes Political Shift
Governor Seyi Makinde is reported to have recently moved to the APM, where he has already declared his intention to contest the 2027 presidential election.
With the latest defections, Makinde is believed to have secured the loyalty of six out of the 14 federal lawmakers representing Oyo State in the House of Representatives.
Political observers say the development underscores the governor’s growing influence within the state’s political structure and his ability to shape legislative alignments.
The Tuesday plenary session also witnessed a wave of defections involving lawmakers from different political parties across Nigeria.
In Bauchi State, Auwalu Gwalabe left the PDP for the APM, while Shehu Dalhatu, representing Faskari/Kankara/Sabuwa Federal Constituency of Katsina State, defected from the All Progressives Congress (APC) to the PDP.
Dalhatu said his decision followed consultations with his constituents and dissatisfaction with internal issues within the APC.
Similarly, Delta lawmaker Etanabene Benedict moved from the Labour Party to the PDP, citing internal crisis within his former party.
The PDP both gained and lost members during the same session.
Alex Egbona defected from the APC to the PDP, stating that while he was changing party affiliation, his commitment to legislative duties and his constituency remained unchanged.
In another development, Edo lawmaker Esosa Iyawe left the APC for the Nigeria Democratic Congress, marking his third party switch within three years.
He attributed his decision to irreconcilable differences with the Edo State chapter of the APC.
Meanwhile, Nasarawa lawmaker Gbefwi Gaza moved from the Social Democratic Party (SDP) to the Labour Party.