Reported by: Ijeoma G | Edited by: Oravbiere Osayomore Promise.
A deepening crisis within the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Oyo State has triggered a wave of high-profile resignations, with five members of the House of Representatives quitting the party within a span of just three days. The latest defections, which occurred on Thursday, May 7, 2026, brought the total number of federal lawmakers leaving the PDP to five, following the earlier resignation of two other Reps members on Wednesday. The mass exodus has intensified speculation about the political future of Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde and raised serious questions about the opposition party's capacity to present a united front ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The three lawmakers who announced their resignation on Thursday are Najimdeen Oyedeji, representing the Iseyin/Itesiwaju/Kajola/Iwajowa federal constituency; Adedeji Olajide, popularly known as Odidiomo, representing the Ibadan North-West/South-West constituency; and Abass Adigun, representing the Ibadan North-East/South-East constituency. Their resignations came just one day after two other Oyo Reps members, Anthony Adepoju of the Ibarapa Central/North federal constituency and Ojo Makanjuola of the Ogo-Oluwa/Surulere federal constituency, formally announced their departure from the PDP. This brings the total number of defections from the party’s federal legislative caucus in Oyo State to five in just three days.
In their separate resignation letters, all five lawmakers cited "lingering legal battles," "unresolved internal conflicts," and the "persistent internal crisis" rocking the PDP as the primary reasons for their decisions. The coordinated nature of the exits suggests a strategic move by the lawmakers, who are widely seen as loyalists of Governor Seyi Makinde. Sources within the party disclosed that more loyalists of the governor may announce their exit from the PDP in the coming days as political realignments intensify ahead of the 2027 elections.
The crisis within the PDP is not confined to Oyo State. At the national level, the party has been polarised into two warring factions. One faction, supported by Federal Capital Territory Minister Nyesom Wike, is led by Abdulraham Mohammed, while another faction, backed by Governor Makinde, is led by former Minister of Special Duties and Intergovernmental Affairs, Tanimu Turaki. The two camps have been locked in a bitter fight over the legitimate leadership of the party, with each faction holding parallel meetings, selling separate nomination forms, and trading accusations of illegality and deception. The crisis has effectively paralysed the party’s decision-making apparatus and created an atmosphere of uncertainty that is now driving away key political figures.
Reacting to the developments, the Makinde-aligned faction of the PDP has dismissed the resignations as an inevitable consequence of the party's current state. Meanwhile, the Wike-led camp has accused the Makinde faction of orchestrating the defections to destabilise the party further. Political observers note that the departure of five serving federal lawmakers from a single state within three days represents a significant blow to the PDP's legislative strength and its electoral prospects in Oyo State, a key battleground in the South-West geopolitical zone.
Speculation is rife about the next political destination of the defecting lawmakers. While none of the five Reps members have officially announced the party they are joining, multiple reports suggest they may be headed to the All Progressives Congress (APC) or the Allied Peoples Movement (APM). The speculation is fuelled by ongoing rumours that Governor Makinde himself may be planning to defect from the PDP, following a meeting he reportedly had with party leaders at his Ibadan residence on Wednesday. The APC in Oyo State has been actively consolidating its structures and welcoming defectors from other parties, including the recent dissolution of the Zenith Labour Party into the APC under the directive of former Governor Rashidi Ladoja.
As the PDP grapples with an existential crisis, the opposition party in Oyo State appears to be crumbling. The defection of five federal lawmakers in three days is a clear indication that the party is haemorrhaging support at a critical time. With the 2027 elections now less than a year away, the PDP faces an uphill battle to rebuild its structures, resolve its leadership tussle, and present a credible challenge to the ruling APC. The clock is ticking, and the window for reconciliation is rapidly closing.
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