Oyo 2027: SDP Set to ‘Harvest’ PDP Bigwigs as Leadership Crisis Deepens

Nifemi Peters

​IBADAN – The political landscape of Oyo State is witnessing a seismic shift as the Social Democratic Party (SDP) prepares to receive a wave of high-profile defectors from the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

​A high-ranking source within the Oyo State SDP, speaking on the condition of anonymity, revealed that the party is bracing for an “overflow” of political gladiators. The source noted that the unresolved internal friction within the PDP has made the SDP a natural alternative for aspirants seeking a stable platform for the 2027 elections.

​”2027 is going to be fundamentally different. Aspirants from the ruling PDP are already looking toward the SDP as their new home,” the source stated.

​The source also hinted at a potential “homecoming” for the state’s helmsman, Engr. Seyi Makinde, pointing out that the Governor has a history with the party. Makinde previously flew the SDP flag in the 2015 gubernatorial race before eventually winning under the PDP in 2019.

​This development follows a major blow to the PDP’s national structure. Recently, the Court of Appeal in Abuja affirmed a lower court’s ruling that nullified the party’s 2025 National Convention held in Ibadan. The convention, which had produced Kabiru Tanimu Turaki as the National Chairman, was ruled to have breached party and electoral guidelines. This judgment has effectively left the party leadership in a state of flux, fueling fears of a mass exodus to the SDP.

The SDP has historically been the “fourth Force” in Oyo State. With the PDP facing legal battles over who controls the party machinery and the APC consolidating its base, the SDP is leveraging its “neutral” status to attract those who might be sidelined by the PDP’s current internal power struggle.

​As the clock ticks toward 2027, the “Pacesetter State” remains the one to watch. Whether the SDP can successfully convert this “overflow” into electoral victory remains to be seen.