BREAKING: Makinde Takes Six Rep Members to APM as PDP Loses Oyo Caucus

By James Adamu

Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde demonstrated his political muscle on Tuesday as six members of the House of Representatives loyal to him formally abandoned the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for the Allied Peoples Movement (APM).

Speaker Tajudeen Abbas read 13 defection letters during plenary as lawmakers resumed from the Sallah break. Among them were the six Oyo caucus members who chose to follow their governor to his new political platform.

Makinde had defected from the PDP to the APM several weeks ago and has already declared his intention to contest the 2027 presidential election on the APM ticket.

The six lawmakers who dumped the PDP for the APM are Anthony Adebayo, Adedeji Olajide, Sunday Makanjuola, Oyedeji Oyeshina, Fola Oyekunle, and Adigun Adekunle.

In their respective defection letters, the legislators cited the prolonged internal crisis and leadership battles within the PDP as their reason for seeking a political alternative to pursue their 2027 ambitions.

With this development, Governor Makinde has successfully pulled six out of the 14 members of the Oyo State caucus in the House of Representatives into the APM.

The political realignment on the floor of the House was not limited to Oyo State. Several other lawmakers also changed parties in both directions.

In Bauchi State, Auwalu Gwalabe left the PDP for the APM as well. Meanwhile, Shehu Dalhatu, who represents the Faskari/Kankara/Sabuwa Federal Constituency of Katsina State, dumped the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) for the PDP. In his letter, Dalhatu explained that after careful consideration of the issues within the APC and consultations with his constituents, he resolved to join the PDP.

The PDP also gained two other lawmakers. Delta State legislator Etanabene Benedict departed from the Labour Party, citing the crisis rocking the party in the South-South state. Additionally, Alex Egbona crossed from the APC to the PDP, stating that his commitment to the House and his constituency remains unshakeable despite his party switch.

However, the PDP also suffered a loss in Edo State, where Esosa Iyawe, a lawmaker who has now defected four times within three years, again left the APC for the Nigeria Democratic Congress. He blamed irreconcilable differences with the Edo State chapter of the APC for his decision.

In another move, Nasarawa lawmaker Gbefwi Gaza announced his departure from the Social Democratic Party to join the Labour Party.