Six members of the House of Representatives, Oyo caucus, have dumped the Peoples Democratic Party for the Allied Peoples Movement.
The members of the Oyo House of Representatives caucus who defected to the APM on Tuesday and loyalists of Governor Seyi Makinde are Anthony Adebayo, Adedeji Olajide, Sunday Makanjuola, Oyedeji Oyeshina, Fola Oyekunle and Adigun Adekunle.
At the resumption of plenary after the Sallah break, Speaker of the House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abbas, who presided over the session, read 13 letters announcing the change of parties by lawmakers.
Recall that Makinde, a few weeks ago, defected to the APM, on which platform he has already declared to run for the presidential election in 2027.
The lawmakers said they were quitting owing to the protracted internal crisis and leadership tussle in the PDP and are seeking a new political platform to pursue their ambitions in 2027.
Meanwhile, as the PDP lost some members, it also gained others in the House on Tuesday.
Auwalu Gwalabe quit the PDP for the APM in Bauchi, while Shehu Dalhatu, representing Faskari/Kankara/Sabuwa Federal Constituency of Katsina State, dumped the ruling All Progressives Congress for the PDP.
Dalhatu said “after careful consideration of the issues in the APC and having consulted with my constituencies, I have resolved to join the PDP.”
Similarly, Delta lawmaker, Etanabene Benedict, left the Labour Party for the PDP, citing “the crisis in the LP,” in the South-South state.
The PDP also gained another lawmaker in Alex Egbona, who dumped the APC for the PDP, noting, however, that his “commitment to the House and his constituency remains unshakeable.”
In yet another defection, Edo legislator Esosa Iyawe, who had defected thrice within three years, again dumped the APC for the Nigeria Democratic Congress.
He blamed “irreconcilable differences with the Edo State chapter of the APC for his decision.”
Nasarawa lawmaker, Gbefwi Gaza, announced his defection from the Social Democratic Party to the Labour Party.
