Political realignments deepened in the House of Representatives on Tuesday as six federal lawmakers from Oyo State officially left the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for the Allied Peoples Movement (APM), amid a wider wave of defections across party lines.
The development was announced during plenary resumption after the Sallah break, with Speaker Tajudeen Abbas reading 13 separate letters notifying the chamber of lawmakers’ decisions to switch political platforms.
The Oyo lawmakers who defected include Anthony Adebayo, Adedeji Olajide, Sunday Makanjuola, Oyedeji Oyeshina, Fola Oyekunle, and Adigun Adekunle.
In their separate communications, the legislators attributed their departure from the PDP to prolonged internal disputes and leadership struggles within the party, which they said had hindered their political progress and ambitions ahead of the 2027 elections.
The move is widely seen as strengthening the political camp of Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde, who recently aligned with the APM and is reportedly preparing for a presidential bid under the party’s platform.
With the latest development, Makinde has effectively carried six out of the 14 federal lawmakers from Oyo State into the APM fold.
Meanwhile, the PDP both lost and gained members during Tuesday’s plenary session, reflecting shifting alliances in the lower chamber.
In Bauchi State, Auwalu Gwalabe also exited the PDP for the APM, while Shehu Dalhatu, representing Faskari/Kankara/Sabuwa Federal Constituency of Katsina State, left the All Progressives Congress (APC) for the PDP, citing consultations with his constituents and dissatisfaction with developments within his former party.
In a similar move, Delta State lawmaker Etanabene Benedict defected from the Labour Party to the PDP, pointing to internal crisis within the party structure in the South-South region.
The PDP further gained Alex Egbona, who crossed over from the APC, stating that while he was changing party affiliation, his dedication to legislative duties and his constituency remained unchanged.
In another shift, Edo lawmaker Esosa Iyawe, who has changed parties multiple times within three years, left the APC for the Nigeria Democratic Congress, blaming irreconcilable differences with the Edo State chapter of the party.
Also, Gbefwi Gaza, representing Nasarawa State, moved from the Social Democratic Party (SDP) to the Labour Party.