Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, recorded a major political victory on Tuesday as six members of the House of Representatives from Oyo State dumped the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for the Allied Peoples Movement (APM).
The defections, announced on the floor of the House of Representatives at the resumption of plenary after the Sallah break, further strengthened Makinde’s growing influence within the APM ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Speaker of the House, Tajudeen Abbas, read the lawmakers’ letters of defection during plenary.
The lawmakers who switched allegiance to the APM are Anthony Adebayo, Adedeji Olajide, Sunday Makanjuola, Oyedeji Oyeshina, Fola Oyekunle and Adigun Adekunle.
In their separate letters, the legislators blamed the prolonged internal crisis and leadership tussles within the PDP for their decision to leave the party.
The latest move means Makinde has now taken six of the 14 Oyo members in the House of Representatives with him to the APM, weeks after he reportedly aligned with the party ahead of his 2027 presidential ambition.
The wave of defections also affected other political parties.
In Bauchi State, Auwalu Gwalabe left the PDP for the APM, while Katsina lawmaker Shehu Dalhatu dumped the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) for the PDP.
Similarly, Delta lawmaker Etanabene Benedict defected from the Labour Party (LP) to the PDP, citing the crisis rocking the party, while Alex Egbona switched from the APC to the PDP.
In another surprise move, Edo lawmaker Esosa Iyawe left the APC for the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), blaming irreconcilable differences with the party’s state chapter.
Also, Nasarawa lawmaker Gbefwi Gaza announced his defection from the Social Democratic Party (SDP) to the Labour Party.
The latest political realignments are expected to reshape party strengths in the House as preparations gradually begin for the 2027 elections.
