It was like a political earthquake in Ogbomoso on Tuesday, as former Chief of Staff (CoS) to Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde, Segun Ogunwuyi, led 32 other chieftains of the Allied Peoples Movement (APM) to join the All Progressives Congress (APC).
Vehicular movement was halted for over three hours, as crowds of APC members and supporters trooped out to witness the top politicians officially join the APC at a rally held at Oja’Gbo, in front of Soun Ogunlola Hall, at the city centre.
Other chieftains who declared for the APC included Alhaji Rasak Gbadegesin (Agbeti), Timothy Oyeniyi, Alabi Olateju, Dr. Banji Folaranmi, Isaiah Adegbite, Peter Oyetunji, APM Chairman, Ogbomoso North Local Government, Jimoh Sikiru, all council secretaries, chiefs of staff, supervisory councillors, special assistants to the council chairmen in Ogbomoso North, Ogbomoso South, Surulere and Ogo-Oluwa local government areas of the state.
Speaking on behalf of the defectors, Ogunwuyi said they came to APC to add value, stressing that APC would win convincingly in Ogbomoso Zone.
Welcoming them, the APC state Chairman, Chief Moses Adeyemo, assured the defectors of equal opportunities.
He urged them to work hard for the success of the APC candidates in the 2027 general election.
One of the defectors, Dr. Banji Folaranmi, said he left APM because it is a one-man party, noting that only Governor Makinde is running the party.
The defection marks a realignment of political forces in Ogbomoso Zone ahead of next year’s general election, with odds in favour of APC in Oyo State. The defection is expected to strengthen the opposition party’s grassroots structure across the zone.
The development comes amid intensifying political activities and shifting allegiances across Oyo State, as parties position themselves for the next governorship election.
The entry of Ogunwuyi, Gbadegesin and other political figures into APC is expected to provide fresh momentum for the governorship ambition of Senator Sharafadeen Alli, the party’s candidate, while presenting a fresh challenge to the political influence of Governor Makinde and APM in Ogbomoso and its environs.
APC governorship candidate, Senator Alli, said Governor Makinde’s APM was a collapsing structure.
“For the likes of Segun Ogunwuyi, Alh. Rasak Agbeti and other politicians of substance to abandon Governor Makinde, it means a lot and I use this medium to tell the few ones that are still there to leave now and join us in the APC,” he said.
APC leaders at the event included Sen. Ayoade Adeseun, Sen. Brimoh Yusuf, Chief Kemi Alao-Akala, Olagunju Ojo, Chief Akin Oke, Alh. Bashiru Akataapa, Aderemi Adepoju, Abiodun Adeyemo (Obadoba) and all Oyo APC Exco members.
Also at the event were the Director General of the Senator Sharafadeen Alli Campaign Council, Asiwaju Yemi Aderibigbe and his deputy, Sola Ogunbode.
Candidates in attendance included desoji Adedeji; Mrs Hannah Ogunesan; Segun Odebunmi and Olamijuwon Alao-Akala.
