Six members of the House of Representatives from Oyo State have defected from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the Allied Peoples Movement (APM), further strengthening the influence of Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, ahead of the 2027 general elections.
According to PUNCH, the lawmakers formally announced their defections on Tuesday during plenary at the House of Representatives. Speaker Tajudeen Abbas read 13 letters from lawmakers notifying the House of changes in party affiliation following the Sallah recess.
The Oyo lawmakers who moved to the APM are Anthony Adebayo, Adedeji Olajide, Sunday Makanjuola, Oyedeji Oyeshina, Fola Oyekunle and Adigun Adekunle.
In their letters, the lawmakers cited the prolonged internal crisis and leadership disputes within the PDP as the main reasons for seeking a new political platform ahead of the 2027 elections.
The defections come weeks after Governor Makinde left the PDP for the APM and declared his intention to contest the 2027 presidential election on the party’s platform.
With the latest development, six of the 14 members of the Oyo caucus in the House of Representatives have now aligned with Makinde in the APM.
The reshuffle on the House floor also saw other movements across party lines. In Bauchi State, Auwalu Gwalabe left the PDP for the APM.
Meanwhile, Shehu Dalhatu of Katsina State defected from the ruling APC to the PDP, saying he made the decision after consulting his constituents and reviewing developments within the APC.
In Delta State, Etanabene Benedict moved from the Labour Party to the PDP, citing ongoing internal disputes within the party.
The PDP also gained Alex Egbona, who left the APC while pledging continued commitment to his legislative duties and constituents.
Elsewhere, Edo lawmaker Esosa Iyawe defected from the APC to the Nigeria Democratic Congress, blaming irreconcilable differences with the party’s state chapter.
In another switch, Nasarawa representative Gbefwi Gaza announced his departure from the Social Democratic Party to the Labour Party.
The wave of defections highlights growing political realignments within the National Assembly as parties begin positioning for the 2027 elections.
