Six members of the House of Representatives from Oyo State have formally defected from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the Allied Peoples Movement (APM), deepening the political realignment sparked by Governor Seyi Makinde’s recent move to the opposition party.

The lawmakers announced their defection during plenary on Tuesday as the House resumed from the Sallah break. Speaker Tajudeen Abbas read letters from 13 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 separate letters, the lawmakers attributed their departure from the PDP to the party’s prolonged internal crisis and leadership disputes, which they said necessitated seeking a new political platform ahead of the 2027 general elections.

The development follows Governor Makinde’s recent defection to the APM, where he has already declared his intention to contest the 2027 presidential election. With the latest defections, six of the 14 members of the Oyo caucus in the House of Representatives have aligned with the governor in the APM.

Tuesday’s plenary also witnessed a series of defections involving lawmakers from other states.

In Bauchi State, Auwalu Gwalabe left the PDP for the APM, while Shehu Dalhatu, representing Faskari/Kankara/Sabuwa Federal Constituency of Katsina State, resigned from the All Progressives Congress (APC) and joined the PDP.

Dalhatu said his decision followed consultations with his constituents and careful consideration of developments within the APC.

Similarly, Delta State lawmaker Etanabene Benedict defected from the Labour Party (LP) to the PDP, citing the ongoing crisis within the LP in the state.

The PDP also gained Alex Egbona, who left the APC for the opposition party, while assuring his constituents of his continued commitment to effective representation.

In Edo State, Esosa Iyawe announced his defection from the APC to the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), blaming irreconcilable differences with the state chapter of the ruling party.

Also, Gbefwi Gaza of Nasarawa State moved from the Social Democratic Party (SDP) to the Labour Party.

The wave of defections highlights growing political realignments across party lines as politicians position themselves ahead of the 2027 elections.