On Tuesday, Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde demonstrated his political strength as six members of the Oyo caucus in the House of Representatives aligned with him left the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and joined the Allied Peoples Movement (APM).
When plenary resumed after the Sallah recess, Speaker of the House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abbas, who chaired the session, read 13 letters from lawmakers notifying the House of their party switches.
It will be recalled that Makinde recently moved to the APM and has already declared his intention to contest the 2027 presidential election on the party’s platform.
The Oyo lawmakers who followed him to the APM were Anthony Adebayo, Adedeji Olajide, Sunday Makanjuola, Oyedeji Oyeshina, Fola Oyekunle, and Adigun Adekunle.
In their defection letters, the legislators attributed their departure to the lingering internal crisis and leadership disputes within the PDP, stating that they were seeking a new political platform to advance their 2027 aspirations.
As a result, Makinde has now taken six of the 14 members of the Oyo State caucus in the House of Representatives with him to the APM.
At the same time, the PDP both lost and gained lawmakers during Tuesday’s sitting.
In Bauchi State, Auwalu Gwalabe also left the PDP for the APM. Meanwhile, Shehu Dalhatu, representing the Faskari/Kankara/Sabuwa Federal Constituency of Katsina State, resigned from the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) and joined the PDP.
Explaining his decision in his defection letter, Dalhatu stated, “After careful consideration of the issues in the APC and having consulted with my constituencies, I have resolved to join the PDP.”
Likewise, Delta State lawmaker Etanabene Benedict moved from the Labour Party (LP) to the PDP, citing “the crisis in the LP,” in the South-South state.
The PDP also welcomed Alex Egbona, who left the APC for the party while emphasizing that his “commitment to the House and his constituency remains unshakeable.”
In another political switch, Edo State legislator Esosa Iyawe—who has changed parties three times in three years—left the APC for the Nigeria Democratic Congress. He attributed the move to “Irreconciliable difference with the Edo State chapter of the APC for his decision.”
Meanwhile, Nasarawa lawmaker Gbefwi Gaza announced his departure from the Social Democratic Party (SDP) to join the Labour Party.
