Six Oyo Reps Dump PDP for APM

The political realignment sparked by Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde’s recent move to the Allied Peoples Movement (APM) gathered momentum on Tuesday as six members of the House of Representatives from Oyo State formally dumped the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for the new platform.

The lawmakers announced their defections during plenary at the House of Representatives following the Sallah recess. Speaker Tajudeen Abbas read 13 letters from lawmakers notifying the House of changes in party affiliation.

The Oyo lawmakers who joined the APM are Anthony Adebayo, Adedeji Olajide, Sunday Makanjuola, Oyedeji Oyeshina, Fola Oyekunle and Adigun Adekunle.

In their separate letters, the lawmakers attributed their decision to the lingering internal crisis and leadership disputes within the PDP, saying the situation had compelled them to seek a new political platform ahead of the 2027 elections.

Their departure means Makinde has succeeded in bringing six of the 14 members of the Oyo caucus in the House of Representatives into the APM fold.

The governor had earlier announced his exit from the PDP and subsequently declared his intention to contest the 2027 presidential election on the APM platform.

The wave of defections was not limited to Oyo lawmakers.

Auwalu Gwalabe of Bauchi State also left the PDP for the APM, while Shehu Dalhatu, representing Faskari/Kankara/Sabuwa Federal Constituency of Katsina State, switched from the All Progressives Congress (APC) to the PDP.

Explaining his decision, Dalhatu said he had consulted widely with his constituents before deciding to leave the APC.

Also, Delta State lawmaker Etanabene Benedict defected from the Labour Party (LP) to the PDP, citing the party’s internal crisis.

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The PDP further boosted its ranks with the addition of Alex Egbona, who left the APC, while pledging continued commitment to his legislative duties and constituents.

In Edo State, Esosa Iyawe announced yet another political switch, moving from the APC to the Nigeria Democratic Congress. He blamed irreconcilable differences with the Edo APC leadership for his decision.

Meanwhile, Nasarawa lawmaker Gbefwi Gaza formally defected from the Social Democratic Party (SDP) to the Labour Party, adding to the growing list of lawmakers changing political allegiance in the House.