Oyo lawmakers defection sees six House of Reps members leave PDP for APM citing internal crisis and leadership disputes ahead of 2027 elections

Six members of the House of Representatives from Oyo State, including Anthony Adebayo, Adedeji Olajide, Sunday Makanjuola, Oyedeji Oyeshina, Fola Oyekunle and Adigun Adekunle, on Tuesday formally defected from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the Allied Peoples Movement (APM) during plenary at the National Assembly in Abuja.

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The announcement was made by Speaker Tajudeen Abbas, who presided over the sitting and read out multiple letters of defection as the House resumed after the Sallah break, confirming a significant political realignment within the Oyo State caucus.

The Oyo lawmakers defection marks a powerful shift in the political balance of the state’s representation in the House of Representatives, with the six lawmakers widely believed to be aligned with Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde, who has also moved to the APM and emerged as the party’s presidential candidate.

Their exit from the PDP is seen as part of a broader political realignment ahead of the 2027 general elections, further strengthening the emerging influence of the APM on the national political stage.

In their formal letters, the lawmakers cited prolonged internal crisis and leadership tussles within the PDP as the primary reason for their departure, stating that the party’s instability had made it difficult to pursue their political ambitions effectively.

The lawmakers argued that the PDP’s internal divisions had created uncertainty and factional struggles across several states, prompting what they described as a necessary and strategic political move.

A notable highlight of the development is that the six lawmakers represent half of the Oyo State caucus in the House of Representatives, giving the APM a stronger foothold in the state’s federal legislative representation.

Speaker Tajudeen Abbas acknowledged receipt of 13 defection letters in total during the sitting, underscoring the scale of political movement unfolding within the chamber.

Political observers describe the Oyo lawmakers defection as a significant and disruptive shift that could reshape alliances ahead of the 2027 elections, particularly as parties reposition for national contests.

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The PDP has yet to issue an official response to the latest defections at the time of filing this report.