The crisis rocking the nation’s major opposition party, Peoples Democratic Party, on Thursday took another dimension, as key political figures, who are strong loyalists and associates of the Oyo state Governor, Engr. Seyi Makinde announced their decisions to quit the party.
It is no more news that that party has been facing a series of crises in the last few months, with a faction pledging loyalty to the governor while another faction is loyal to the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike.
Makinde’s loyalists announced their defection from the PDP on Thursday in separate locations, even though they never mentioned a particular political party they are heading to, but there are speculations that they are on their way to the Allied Peoples’ Movement.
As at the last count, reports stated that no fewer than ten prominent chieftains of the party in the state had dumped the PDP.
Some of those who have quit their membership of the party include; members of the House of Representatives representing Ibarapa North/Central Federal Constituency, Anthony Adepoju; Ibadan North East/South East Federal Constituency, Abass Adigun popularly called ‘Agboworin’; and Ibadan North West/South West Federal Constituency, Adedeji Olajide also known as ‘Odidi Omo’
Others are the Deputy Speaker of the State House of Assembly, Abiodun Fadeyi; the party’s gubernatorial aspirants, Olufemi Oguntoyinbo; Fatai Owoseni, who served as Special Adviser on Security to the governor and the Chairman, Oluyole Local Government, Engr. Akeem Olatunji.
Fadeyi, who represents Ona Ara State Constituency in the House of Assembly, in an interview, said he dumped the PDP due to the internal crisis rocking the party.
“Yes, I am also leaving the party. I am defecting, of course. The reason is what others are giving. What are the reasons others are giving? It is due to the internal crisis.” He stated.
Olatunji, a former Publicity Secretary of the PDP in the state, in his own remark, also cited an internal crisis as the reason for his defection.
“Yes, it is true. Due to the internal crisis. You know Wike has bastardized the party. He did not allow the party to breathe. We need to give the people of our constituency the opportunity to enjoy good governance” he noted.
Information gathered explained that more loyalists of the governor are on their way out of the PDP ahead of the 2027 general elections.
