Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, has reportedly commenced a series of meetings with members of his cabinet and key political stakeholders in the Allied People’s Movement (APM) amid growing concerns over the increasing wave of defections from his political camp to the All Progressives Congress (APC).
The meetings reportedly followed the departure of several prominent political figures, serving government officials, party leaders and political appointees, who have either resigned from their positions or defected to the ruling APC.
The latest wave of defections is said to have significantly affected Ogbomoso Zone, where several prominent politicians and local government representatives have reportedly abandoned the APM for the APC.
Among those who recently defected are the governor’s Chief of Staff, Hon. Segun Ogunwuyi; Alhaji Rasak Gbadegesin, popularly known as Agbeti; Hon. Timothy Oyeniyi; Hon. Alabi Olateju; Hon. Isaiah Adegbite; Hon. Peter Oyetunji; and Hon. Jimoh Sikiru, the APM Chairman in Ogbomoso North.
Other political figures and local government representatives from Ogbomoso North, Ogbomoso South, Surulere and Ogo-Oluwa are also reportedly among those who have left the party.
The latest developments come amid a series of resignations by government officials and political appointees in the Makinde administration.
The Commissioner for Budget and Economic Planning, Ayobami Oluwaseun Ojo, and the ministry’s Special Adviser, Simeon Adegbola Oyeleke, resigned from their respective positions with effect from November 2.
While Ojo did not publicly disclose the reason for his resignation, Oyeleke reportedly cited an uncomfortable working environment, saying it had become increasingly difficult for him to represent the aspirations of his people while serving in government.
Similarly, Sunday Olugbenga Falana resigned from the Oyo State Independent Electoral Commission (OYSIEC), thanking the governor for the opportunity to serve without publicly stating the reason for his departure.
The Director-General of the Due Process Office, Tara Adefope, also reportedly resigned from the administration.
Other notable political figures who have reportedly parted ways with Makinde include the Chairman of the Governor’s Advisory Council, Hosea Agboola, popularly known as Alleluyah; former Deputy Governor and Ambassador, Taofeek Arapaja; and Alhaji Bisi Olopoeniyan.
Agboola and Arapaja have since joined the APC.
The governor has also lost some of his former political associates, including his former Political Adviser, Chief Babatunde Oduyoye, and former Special Adviser on Security, Fatai Owoseni, who officially resigned from his position on May 7, 2026.
Amid the growing political tension, Makinde has reportedly begun reaching out to members of his cabinet and remaining loyalists to discuss the defections and explore ways of addressing the grievances of aggrieved party stakeholders.
Sources familiar with the meetings disclosed that the discussions involving the governor, dissatisfied party leaders and other political associates took place at his residences in Ikolaba and Kolapo Ishola Estate in Ibadan.
One of the sources said the governor expressed serious concern over the increasing defections and sought suggestions on how to prevent more political associates from leaving the party.
According to the source, some attendees also used the opportunity to express their dissatisfaction with the situation within the party, blaming the crisis partly on what they described as the governor’s unilateral decision to endorse Bimbo Adekanmbi as the party’s governorship candidate for the 2027 election.
“The governor was visibly worried when those in attendance also said the last had not been heard of such defections. He wanted to know what could be done to curtail the mass defection. It was also an opportunity for those at the meeting to speak their minds on the cause of the crisis bedevilling the party, which was traced to the unilateral decision of the governor to pick Bimbo Adekanmbi as the party’s governorship candidate in the 2027 election,” the source said.
The source further disclosed that some participants raised concerns over certain policies of the Makinde administration, which they alleged had generated negative publicity for the government.
The reported selection of Adekanmbi as the party’s preferred governorship candidate has also emerged as a major source of disagreement among some stakeholders, with aggrieved members reportedly questioning the process and their level of involvement in the decision.
The latest meeting, which reportedly lasted until the early hours of Thursday, ended without any concrete agreement or unified strategy to address the growing wave of defections, according to sources familiar with the discussions.
The political developments come as political parties and stakeholders in Oyo State intensify preparations for the 2027 governorship election, with the growing realignments and defections expected to shape the state’s political landscape ahead of the polls.
