Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, has reportedly begun consultations with members of his cabinet and key political stakeholders following the defection of several prominent politicians from his camp to the All Progressives Congress (APC).
The governor is said to be making efforts to address the growing disagreements within the Allied People’s Movement (APM) and persuade remaining loyalists not to abandon the party.
Among those who have reportedly defected to the APC are Makinde’s Chief of Staff, Segun Ogunwuyi; former Deputy Governor, Taofeek Arapaja; Chairman of the Governor’s Advisory Council, Hosea Agboola, popularly known as Alleluyah; and Alhaji Bisi Olopoeniyan.
Other politicians who reportedly left the party include Rasak Gbadegesin, popularly known as Agbeti; Timothy Oyeniyi; Alabi Olateju; Isaiah Adegbite; Peter Oyetunji; and Jimoh Sikiru, the former APM chairman in Ogbomoso North.
Several other political figures and local government representatives from Ogbomoso North, Ogbomoso South, Surulere and Ogo-Oluwa have also reportedly joined the APC.
The defections have occurred alongside the resignation of some government officials and political appointees.
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The Commissioner for Budget and Economic Planning, Ayobami Oluwaseun Ojo, and the ministry’s Special Adviser, Simeon Adegbola Oyeleke, reportedly resigned from their positions with effect from November 2.
While Ojo did not publicly give reasons for his departure, Oyeleke reportedly expressed dissatisfaction with the working environment, saying it had become difficult to represent the interests of his people while serving in the administration.
Also, Sunday Olugbenga Falana resigned from the Oyo State Independent Electoral Commission (OYSIEC), while the Director-General of the Due Process Office, Tara Adefope, equally left the government.
Other political associates who have departed Makinde’s camp include his former Political Adviser, Babatunde Oduyoye, and former Special Adviser on Security, Fatai Owoseni, who resigned from his position on May 7, 2026.
Amid the growing political tension, Makinde has reportedly been meeting with cabinet members and remaining loyalists at his residences in Ikolaba and Kolapo Ishola Estate in Ibadan.
Sources familiar with the discussions said the governor expressed concern about the increasing defections and asked attendees to suggest ways of preventing further departures.
One of the sources disclosed that participants also used the meetings to express their grievances over the internal disagreements affecting the party.
The source attributed part of the crisis to Makinde’s reported decision to select Bimbo Adekanmbi as the APM’s governorship candidate for the 2027 election without adequate consultation with other stakeholders.
Some participants were also said to have raised concerns about government policies which they believed had attracted negative public attention.
The latest meeting reportedly continued until the early hours of Thursday but ended without a common strategy for resolving the disagreements or stopping further defections.
The developments come as political parties in Oyo State intensify preparations for the 2027 governorship election.
Meanwhile, the governor’s Chief Press Secretary, Sulaimon Olanrewaju, reportedly promised to respond to questions concerning the allegations but had yet to provide a response before the report was published.
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