Oyo PDP Caucus Splits As Six Reps Members Defect To APM

Six members of the House of Representatives from Oyo State have defected from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the Allied Peoples Movement (APM).

Naija News reports that the lawmakers, who are believed to be loyal to Governor Seyi Makinde, announced their defection on Tuesday during plenary at the House of Representatives.

Their movement comes after Makinde emerged as the presidential candidate of the APM following his own defection to the party.

The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abbas, read the letters of defection when the House resumed plenary after the Sallah break.

Abbas, who presided over the session, read 13 letters from lawmakers announcing their decision to leave their former political parties for new platforms.

Among them were six members of the Oyo State caucus who left the PDP for the APM.

The lawmakers are Anthony Adebayo, Adedeji Olajide, Sunday Makanjuola, Oyedeji Oyeshina, Fola Oyekunle and Adigun Adekunle.

Their defection represents a major shift in the political alignment of the Oyo caucus in the House, especially ahead of the 2027 general elections.

In their letters, the lawmakers blamed their decision on the lingering internal crisis and leadership tussle within the PDP.

They said the crisis in the party had made it necessary for them to seek an alternative political platform to pursue their political ambitions ahead of 2027.

The PDP has been battling internal divisions in several states, with members complaining about leadership disputes, factional control and uncertainty over the party’s direction.

The Oyo lawmakers said the APM offered them a fresh platform to continue their political activities.

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

The move is expected to strengthen the governor’s new political base as he prepares for the 2027 presidential election under the APM.

Makinde’s emergence as the party’s presidential candidate has already drawn attention to the APM, a party that is now positioning itself as one of the platforms to watch ahead of the next general elections.

The defection of the six lawmakers is also expected to deepen political realignment in Oyo State, where the governor remains a major force.