More than 6,000 women of the Igede community resident in Oyo State have declared their support for the governorship candidate of the Allied Peoples Movement (APM), Bimbo Adekanbi, and the presidential candidate of the party, Governor Seyi Makinde, ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The declaration was made by Ajaja on Saturday during the 2026 Igede Agba New Yam Festival thanksgiving service held at the Assembly of God Church, Eleyele, Ibadan.
The event, which brought Igede women leaders from across the 33 local government areas of the state under one roof in Ibadan, was presided over by the Resident Minister of the church and Special Assistant to Governor Makinde on Interfaith Affairs, Reverend Femi Ibikunle.
The endorsement followed controversy generated by a video that recently circulated on social media, in which the Igede women leader in Oyo State, Mrs Mary Ajaja, declared that the support of thousands of Igede women wing of the belonged to Makinde and Adekanbi.
Ajaja’s declaration had reportedly generated a disagreement at a meeting convened by the owner of Ilaji Resort, Chief Dotun Sanusi, where Sanusi challenged the position, arguing that Ajaja could only speak for herself despite being the leader of the Igede women in the state.
The endorsement also provided an opportunity for the Igede community to publicly demonstrate its political position following the controversy surrounding the earlier video.
The women leaders maintained that their declaration was not merely an individual position but a collective decision of the Igede women wing represented at the thanksgiving and new yam festival.
The Igede Agba celebration itself is an annual cultural event through which members of the Igede community celebrate the new yam harvest, give thanks and reaffirm their communal bonds.
However, in what appeared to be an effort to formally clarify the position of the women and put to rest controversies arising from the viral video, Ajaja invited Adekanbi to the 2026 Igede Agba celebration.
At the thanksgiving service, Ajaja, alongside members of the Igede women executive committees drawn from the 33 local government areas, formally declared their support for Adekanbi and Makinde ahead of the 2027 elections.
The declaration turned the cultural and thanksgiving service into a political endorsement, with the women publicly identifying with the APM governorship candidate and Makinde’s presidential bid.
Adekanbi, in his address described Igede people from Benue state as people with uncommon courage to thrive wherever they find themselves.
He said their resilience and dedication to legitimate earnings have made them unique as the entire nation heavily rely on their agricultural prowess to advance food security agenda.
Adekanbi added that the Igede people remain critical to the Oyo state economic ecosystem as he looked forward to Agricultural transformation in consolidation of the gains recorded under the Makinde led government.
He assured them that his administration will continue to make Oyo state friendly, safe, and secured for them to live and thrive as a people directly involved in the socioeconomic development of the state under his administration.
“You’re very critical to Oyo state’s socioeconomic development. Oyo state will protect you and your family because we want you to live and thrive here.
“I doubt if there is any single local government in Oyo state where there are no Igede people from Benue state pursuing legitimate businesses in different fields.
“I’m particularly impressed with you because no matter where you find yourselves, you always thrive by converting challenges to opportunities and that’s why we will ensure you’re comfortable in Oyo state and I can assure you that Oyo state will continue to be your second home,” Adekanbi said.
Speaking earlier, Reverend Ibikunle, who presided over the event described Adekanbi as a political movement that had gained acceptance across different demographic segments of Oyo State.
He said the growing support for the former commissioner for finance was an indication that his political candidature had continued to resonate with people beyond traditional political boundaries.
Ibikunle further described Adekanbi as a candidate to watch in the forthcoming general election, saying his political movement had continued to attract support from different sections of the state.
The endorsement of Adekanbi comes as political activities ahead of the 2027 Oyo State governorship election intensify, with political parties and their candidates increasingly engaging different interest groups and communities across the state.
Makinde, who has also been adopted as the APM presidential candidate, has continued to campaign around his administration’s development record and the need for continuity at both the state and federal levels.
In company of Adekanbi’s entourage were the Director General of APM Women Wing for Governorship and Presidential Campaign in Oyo state, Hon. Ramata Agberemi Dabo (RAD), Ajiboye Sangogade (Boye Nation) and other top members of the APM campaign team.