Six members of the House of Representatives from Oyo State have officially defected from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the Allied Peoples Movement (APM).
The lawmakers are widely regarded as political allies of Governor Seyi Makinde, who recently left the PDP and secured the APM’s presidential ticket ahead of the 2027 general election.
The defections were formally announced on Tuesday during plenary at the House of Representatives, following the resumption of legislative activities after the Eid-el-Kabir break.
Speaker of the House, Tajudeen Abbas, read a total of 13 letters from lawmakers notifying the chamber of their decisions to switch political parties.
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 departure from the PDP to the party’s prolonged internal disputes and leadership challenges.
They argued that the lingering crisis within the opposition party had made it difficult for them to pursue their political aspirations and effectively serve their constituents.
According to the lawmakers, the unresolved divisions within the PDP influenced their decision to seek a new political platform ahead of the 2027 elections.
The latest development further strengthens Governor Makinde’s influence within the APM, with six of Oyo State’s 14 House of Representatives members now aligned with him in the party.
The defections are expected to reshape the political landscape in Oyo State as preparations intensify for the 2027 general election.
Political observers view the move as another indication of the growing realignments taking place across Nigeria’s political space ahead of the next electoral cycle.
