The political influence of Seyi Makinde was evident on Tuesday as six members of the Oyo State caucus in the House of Representatives defected from the Peoples Democratic Party to the Allied Peoples Movement.
At plenary, Speaker Tajudeen Abbas read letters from 13 lawmakers announcing changes in party affiliation.
The Oyo lawmakers who joined the APM are Anthony Adebayo, Adedeji Olajide, Sunday Makanjuola, Oyedeji Oyeshina, Fola Oyekunle and Adigun Adekunle. They cited the prolonged leadership crisis within the PDP as the reason for their departure and their decision to pursue their 2027 political ambitions on a new platform.
Their move means Makinde has now taken six of Oyo State’s 14 House of Representatives members into the APM fold.
The PDP, however, recorded both losses and gains during the session. In Bauchi, Auwalu Gwalabe left the PDP for the APM, while Shehu Dalhatu defected from the All Progressives Congress to the PDP, citing consultations with his constituents and concerns within the APC.
Delta lawmaker Etanabene Benedict also joined the PDP from the Labour Party, blaming internal crises in the party. Similarly, Alex Egbona left the APC for the PDP while reaffirming his commitment to his constituents.
In Edo State, Esosa Iyawe defected from the APC to the Nigeria Democratic Congress, citing irreconcilable differences with the APC leadership in the state.
Also, Nasarawa lawmaker Gbefwi Gaza announced his move from the Social Democratic Party to the Labour Party, adding to the latest wave of defections in the House ahead of the 2027 elections.
