APM gains as six Oyo PDP lawmakers dumps party

Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, recorded a major political gain on Tuesday as six members of the House of Representatives from Oyo State formally left the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and joined the Allied Peoples Movement (APM).

The lawmakers, who are considered loyal to the governor, announced their decision during the House of Representatives plenary session after lawmakers returned from the Sallah break.

Speaker Tajudeen Abbas, who presided over the sitting, read a total of 13 letters from members notifying the House of their decisions to switch political parties.

The latest defections come weeks after Makinde himself moved from the PDP to the APM. Following his defection, the governor declared his intention to contest the 2027 presidential election on the platform of the APM.

The movement of the six Oyo lawmakers is being viewed as a sign of Makinde’s growing influence within the state’s political landscape and a boost for the APM ahead of future political contests.

The members of the Oyo House of Representatives caucus who defected to the APM on Tuesday included Anthony Adebayo, Adedeji Olajide, Sunday Makanjuola, Oyedeji Oyeshina, Fola Oyekunle and Adigun Adekunle.

In their letters of defection, the lawmakers cited the protracted internal crisis and leadership tussle in the PDP as a reason to seek a political alternative to pursue their ambitions in 2027.

With this development, Gov Makinde has taken six out of the 14 members of the Oyo state caucus in the House of Representatives with him to the APM.

Meanwhile, the PDP lost and gained members on the floor of the House on Tuesday.

In Bauchi, Auwalu Gwalabe also left the PDP for the APM, while Shehu Dalhatu, representing Faskari/Kankara/Sabuwa Federal Constituency of Katsina State, dumped the ruling All Progressives Congress for the PDP.

In his letter of defection, Dalhatu said, “After careful consideration of the issues in the APC and having consulted with my constituencies, I have resolved to join the PDP.”

Similarly, Delta lawmaker, Etanabene Benedict, left the Labour Party for the PDP, citing “the crisis in the LP,” in the South-South state.

The PDP also gained another lawmaker in Alex Egbona, who dumped the APC for the PDP, noting, however, that his “commitment to the House and his constituency remains unshakeable.”

In yet another defection, Edo legislator Esosa Iyawe, who had defected thrice within three years, again dumped the APC for the Nigeria Democratic Congress.

He blamed “Irreconcilable difference with the Edo State chapter of the APC for his decision.”

Nasarawa lawmaker, Gbefwi Gaza, announced his defection from the Social Democratic Party to the Labour Party.

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