The perennial crisis rocking the Peoples Democratic Party took another dimension on Thursday when key loyalists and associates of Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde defected from the ruling party in the state in droves.
PDP has been embroiled in a series of crises in the last few months.
A faction of the party is loyal to the governor while another one is loyal to the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Mr Nyesom Wike.
On Thursday, many key loyalists of Governor Seyi Makinde in Oyo State announced their defection from the party at different locations in the state.
Although there are speculations that they are on their way to the Allied Peoples’ Movement, none of those who resigned from the PDP stated the next political party they intend to join.
As of the time of filing this report, no fewer than 10 prominent chieftains of the party in the state had dumped the PDP, including a gubernatorial aspirant, Ambassador Olufemi Oguntoyinbo; Special Adviser on Security to the governor, Mr Fatai Owoseni; and Chairman of Oluyole Local Government Area, Engineer Akeem Olatunji.
Others are the Deputy Speaker of the State House of Assembly, Abiodun Fadeyi; member of the House of Representatives representing Ibarapa North/Ibarapa Central Federal Constituency, Anthony Adepoju; his counterpart 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.
Fadeyi, who represents Ona Ara State Constituency in the House of Assembly, said he dumped the PDP due to the internal crisis rocking the party.
Fadeyi said, “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.”
Olatunji, a former Publicity Secretary of the PDP in the state, in his own remark, also cited internal crisis as the reason for his defection.
Olatunji said, “Yes, it is true. Due to the internal crisis. You know Wike has bastardised 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.”
