The crisis rocking the Peoples Democratic Party intensified on Thursday as several loyalists and close associates of Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, resigned from the party ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The wave of defections is the latest development in the prolonged internal rift within the PDP, which has reportedly split the party into factions loyal to Governor Makinde and the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike.
Findings revealed that no fewer than 10 prominent chieftains of the party in Oyo State announced their resignation from the PDP in separate locations across the state on Thursday.
Although there were speculations that the defectors might be heading to the Allied Peoples’ Movement, none of them officially disclosed their next political destination.
Among those who resigned were a former governorship aspirant, Ambassador Olufemi Oguntoyinbo; the governor’s Special Adviser on Security, Fatai Owoseni; and the Chairman of Oluyole Local Government Area, Akeem Olatunji.
Others include the Deputy Speaker of the Oyo State House of Assembly, Abiodun Fadeyi; the member representing Ibarapa North/Ibarapa Central Federal Constituency, Anthony Adepoju; the lawmaker representing Ibadan North East/Ibadan South East Federal Constituency, Abass Adigun; and the member representing Ibadan North West/Ibadan South West Federal Constituency, Adedeji Olajide.
Speaking on his decision to leave the PDP, Fadeyi, who represents Ona Ara State Constituency, attributed his resignation to the lingering crisis within the party.
“Yes, I am leaving the party. The reason is the internal crisis rocking the PDP,” he said during a telephone interview.
Similarly, Olatunji, a former state Publicity Secretary of the PDP, blamed the internal turmoil for his defection.
He accused Wike of worsening the crisis within the opposition party.
“The crisis within the party informed my decision. Wike has destabilised the PDP and denied the party peace. We want our people to continue enjoying good governance,” he said.
As of the time of filing this report, indications emerged that more loyalists of Governor Makinde were preparing to quit the PDP in the coming days as political realignments ahead of the 2027 elections gather momentum.
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