Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, has expressed confidence that the Allied People’s Movement will record a major victory in the 2027 general elections, as he welcomed thousands of former members of the All Progressives Congress into the party.
Makinde spoke on Monday at the Boye Nation/JAF Movement Mega Concert held at the Open Tennis Court of the Lekan Salami Sports Complex, Adamasingba, Ibadan. The event also served as the official reception for the defectors who joined the APM.
The new members were led by Ajiboye Sangogade, popularly known as Boye Nation, who is a personal assistant and supporter of former Minister of Power, Adebayo Adelabu. The defectors reportedly came from different local government areas across Oyo State.
The governor’s position was contained in a statement issued by his Special Adviser on Media, Sulaimon Olarenwaju, in Ibadan.
Makinde also challenged the APC governorship candidate, Senator Sharafadeen Alli, to concentrate on his own campaign ahead of the 2027 election instead of focusing on criticisms of his administration.
The governor repeated his earlier criticism of Alli’s professional record and said the APC candidate should work on convincing voters to support him. Makinde expressed support for the APM candidate, Bimbo Adekanmbi, who he described as a certified accountant with professional qualifications.
He said the people of Oyo State would decide between the candidates at the polls and argued that they would not support any move that could take the state backwards.
Makinde also responded to criticism over the use of diesel generators to power some streetlights in Oyo State, despite his background as an engineer.
He linked the situation to the country’s wider electricity problems, arguing that the use of diesel-powered generators would not have been necessary if the Federal Government had been able to resolve the power supply challenges.
The governor referred to President Bola Tinubu’s earlier campaign promise on improving electricity supply and argued that the continued use of generators showed that the power problem had not been fully resolved.
Makinde further pointed to his own professional background as an engineer and said APM’s candidate also had professional qualifications in accounting. He used the issue to defend his administration against criticism from the APC candidate.
The governor said the large number of APC members joining the APM was an indication of growing support for his party ahead of the 2027 elections. He also expressed confidence that the APM would perform strongly in the various elections scheduled for 2027.
The event, which had the theme, “Young, United, Unstoppable,” was organised to formally receive Sangogade and his supporters into the APM.
Several Fuji musicians performed at the concert, including Taye Currency, Tiri Leather, Babatunmise, Ajeseun Band and Aare Rasaq Ayanfe.
The event was attended by several government officials and political leaders, including the Secretary to the Oyo State Government, Musibau Babatunde; the Chief of Staff to the governor, Segun Ogunwuyi; members of the National Assembly and Oyo State House of Assembly, commissioners and other government officials.
APM leaders and candidates also attended the gathering. Among them were the party’s three senatorial candidates in Oyo State: Dhikrullahi Olajide Odidiomo for Oyo South, Shina Peller for Oyo North and Ajadi Oguntoyinbo for Oyo Central.
Also present were the party’s candidates for the 14 House of Representatives seats, 32 State House of Assembly seats and the 33 local government chairmanship positions across the state.