Mass exit hits Oyo PDP as supporters await Makinde’s directive

Mass resignation, on Thursday, hit the Tanimu Turaki (SAN)- led faction of the Oyo State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party, as various aspirants jostling for elective positions in the forthcoming 2027 general elections dumped the party. The development comes as loyalists of Governor Seyi Makinde await his directive on the way forward for the 2027 electioneering. The governor had promised to reveal his preferred successor on May 8, in preparation for the May 10 deadline of the submission of digital registers of political parties, in preparation for primaries and the 2027 general election. The PUNCH reported on Thursday that a former commissioner for finance during the late Governor Abiola Ajimobi administration, Bimbo Adekanmbi, may be announced as the preferred candidate by the governor. This comes as sources close to the governor said he may order his loyalists to move en masse to the Allied Peoples Movement to pursue their ambition for 2027, due to the protracted crisis in the PDP. Though the members who announced their resignations on Thursday did not announce their preferred political parties, sources close to the party secretariat told The PUNCH in Ibadan, the state capital, that some were planning to join either APM or Nigeria Democratic Congress. As of press time, those who had tendered their resignations included the lawmaker representing Ibadan North-East/South-East, Abass Adigun, popularly called Agboworin; Executive Adviser to Governor Seyi Makinde on Security, Fatai Owoseni; lawmaker representing Ibarapa Central federal constituency, Adebayo Adepoju; member representing Ibadan North-West/Ibadan South-West federal constituency, Stanley Olajide a.k.a Odidiomo; aspirant for Egbeda/Ona-Ara Federal Constituency, Temitope Oladimeji popularly called O’tope; the only federal lawmaker from Oke-Ogun, Shina Oyedeji; Chairman, Oluyole Local Government, Akeem Olatunji, governorship aspirant, Olufemi Ajadi, among others. They submitted that their decisions were based on the internal wrangling in the party, which may likely deprive them of the opportunity to vie for elective positions come 2027. Adebayo, popularly known as Ibarapakan, said, “I am leaving the party because of the leadership crisis rocking it.” Also, the Chairman of Oluyole LG, Olatunji, in a resignation letter dated 5 May 2026 and submitted to the Chairman, Ward 5, Oluyole Local Government PDP, Mojeed Raji, attributed his decision to the disagreement among the leadership of the party at the national level. Olatunji thanked the leadership of the party at all levels for what he described as a rare privilege to serve the people in different capacities on the platform of the PDP. • Police kill robbery suspect, rescue abducted Oyo farmer • El-Rufai’s son leads fresh Reps defections to NDC, ADC • SWAGA leaders root for Tinubu, Oyebanji’s re-election He specifically thanked the state chairman and vice chairman, Dayo Ogungbenro and Wasiu Adeleke, for their support and guidance at all times, expressing gratitude to Seye Famojuro, whom he described as his political benefactor, committed to the advancement of his political career. Also, the governorship aspirant, Ajadi, attributed his resignation from the party to the need to pursue his ambition on another political platform due to the unresolved crisis at the national level of the PDP. In a resignation letter dated May 6, 2026, and addressed to the state chairman at the party’s Secretariat in Molete, Ajadi said his decision followed “extensive consultations and careful reflection” on his political future and ideological direction. The letter, routed through the PDP Ward Chairman of Ward 8, Osengere in Egbeda Local Government Area of the state, marks a significant political development within the party in the state. “I am writing to officially notify you of my decision to resign from the membership of the PDP, effective immediately. This decision comes after extensive consultations and careful reflection on my political direction, particularly in relation to the broader state and national vision of unity, progress, and sustainable leadership that I remain deeply committed to pursuing,” he said. None of them disclosed their next political destinations in the letter. Sources close to the politician hinted that “Consultations are ongoing with associates and stakeholders across different political platforms. Sources close to the politicians said, “The development is expected to generate reactions within the Oyo State political landscape, particularly among PDP loyalists and opposition blocs monitoring emerging alliances ahead of future elections.” The PDP is torn between the bloc loyal to the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike and the Turaki-led Interim National Working Committee, loyal to Makinde. Both factions are laying claim to the leadership structure of the party, with Wike claiming authenticity of the Abdulrahman Mohammed-led National Working Committee, following the nullification of the November 15 and 16 convention of the party held in Ibadan, Oyo State.