- Six Oyo lawmakers defected from PDP to Allied Peoples Movement.
- Defectors cited internal PDP crisis and leadership disputes as reasons
- Move strengthens Makinde’s political base ahead of 2027 elections.
Six members of the House of Representatives from Oyo State have defected from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the Allied Peoples Movement (APM).
Naija News reports that the lawmakers, widely believed to be loyal to Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde, announced their defection on Tuesday during plenary at the House of Representatives.
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EKO HOT BLOG reports that the development comes after Makinde reportedly emerged as the presidential candidate of the APM following his own defection to the party.
The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abbas, read the defection letters on the floor of the House when lawmakers resumed plenary after the Sallah break.
Abbas, who presided over the sitting, disclosed that a total of 13 lawmakers had formally communicated their decision to leave their former political parties for new platforms.
Among them were six members of the Oyo State caucus who dumped the PDP for the APM.
The lawmakers are Anthony Adebayo, Adedeji Olajide, Sunday Makanjuola, Oyedeji Oyeshina, Fola Oyekunle and Adigun Adekunle.
Their defection marks a significant shift in the political balance within the Oyo caucus in the House of Representatives, particularly ahead of the 2027 general elections.
In their separate letters, the lawmakers cited prolonged internal crisis and leadership disputes within the PDP as key reasons for their decision to exit the party.
They stated that the unresolved tensions and factional struggles had made it difficult to operate effectively within the PDP structure, prompting their move to a new political platform.
The PDP has continued to grapple with internal divisions across several states, with members raising concerns over leadership rivalry, factional control, and uncertainty about the party’s future direction.
The Oyo lawmakers added that the APM provided a more stable and viable platform to pursue their political ambitions ahead of 2027.
With the latest development, Governor Makinde now controls six out of the 14 members of the Oyo State caucus in the House of Representatives under the APM structure.
The shift is expected to further consolidate Makinde’s emerging political base as he positions himself for the 2027 presidential race under the APM.
Makinde’s reported emergence as the party’s presidential candidate has already drawn national attention to the APM, which is gradually positioning itself as a key contender in the unfolding political realignment ahead of the next general elections.
The defection is also expected to deepen political recalibration in Oyo State, where the governor continues to wield significant influence.
