The barapa East Local Government Area of Oyo State witnessed a political exodus as more than 2,000 members and supporters of the All Progressives Congress (APC), defected to the Allied Peoples’ Movement (APM).
The defectors were led by a former local government chairman, Bimbo Adepoju, defected to the Allied Peoples Movement (APM).
The defectors were received by the APM governorship candidate, Bimbo Adekanmbi and two term Speaker of the state Assembly running for a third term, Hon. Adebo Ogundoyin.
The defectors declared their support for the party’s governorship candidate, Adekanmbi, Governor Seyi Makinde for president and Ogundoyin’s reelection, ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Addressing the defectors at an economic empowerment program organized for traders, artisans and vulnerable groups in Eruwa on Sunday at the Eruwa Town Hall, Rt. Hon. Adebo Ogundoyin, who organized the event assured the defectors of equal treatment stressing that all members of the party remains he same with equal access and opportunity.
He declared that names of the defectors have been duly collated for the next phase of his economic empowerment program coming up soon.
He expressed joy and confidence that their entrants into the party would translate into landslide electoral success for the APM come 2027.
Ogundoyin said Makinde’s ambition for the presidency would test the strength of Oyo in supporting its own for greater glory stressing that posterity will not be kind to the people if they betrayed their own.
He said Makinde remains the best candidate among all the presidential candidates for the 2027 election and any act of political betrayal would go down in history for the coming generation of politicians and young leaders.
Adekanmbi, in his remarks, expressed appreciation to the defectors and their leaders for showing the courage required of every patriotic citizens who believes in good governance.
He reiterated that the party is for both old and new members, and as such, there would be no room for any form of discrimination against them in terms of access to opportunities and privileges within the party.
The APM governorship candidate said Makinde has laid the foundation for a prosperous Oyo state on the the premise of sustainable development trajectory which he he assured his administration would not deviate from if elected.
He expressed confidence in his track records in both public and private life saying he remains the candidate to beat come 2027. He however urged party faithful to embark on aggressive grassroots mobilization on the basis of door-to-door campaign.
Earlier in his address, Adepoju, a former Chairman of Ibarapa East Local Government and former Chairman of the Oyo State Hospitals Management Board, said his decision to leave the APC followed his disappointment with the party after initially believing it would provide a better political alternative and bring development to the geopolitical zone.
He said the achievements of Governor Makinde and the political leadership of the APM were among the factors that convinced him to return to the political fold with thousands of his supporters.
Adepoju particularly mentioned Ogundoyin, his cousin, as one of the political figures whose contributions and relationship with the people influenced his decision.
Explaining why he dumped the APC, the former council chairman said he had expected a better political experience when he joined the party but became dissatisfied with its internal arrangements and leadership style.
He also took a swipe at the APC’s governorship candidate, Senator Sharafadeen Alli, questioning his political record and ability to attract the support of the electorate.
“I have known Senator Sharafadeen Alli for about 35 years. He has been a senator for almost four years, yet it is difficult to point to what he has done for our people. I cannot continue to follow somebody when I no longer believe in his political direction,” he said.
Adepoju also accused Alli of allowing nepotism to influence appointments and government opportunities during his time as Secretary to the State Government, arguing that competence and merit were never factors or priority under Alli when he was SSG.
He maintained that the APC had lost its political ground in Ibarapa East and other areas where he claimed to have established grassroots structures.
According to him, the party’s political influence in the area was built through the commitment and mobilisation efforts of strong political individuals who worked closely with the people.
He remarked that his departure from APC would test the strength of those structures, insisting that political loyalty could not be sustained through financial inducements alone but sustainable development that benefits the masses.
Adepoju further argued that voters could collect money offered by Alli and his APC followers while voting for continuity amd good governance being championed by the administration of governor Seyi Makinde.
He stressed that the 2027 elections would depend more on direct engagement with the electorate than the distribution of what he described as Abuja dollars.
Speaking on the prospects of the APM in the coming election, he expressed confidence in Adekanmbi’s candidacy and pledged to mobilise his supporters for the party.
He equally declared support for Ogundoyin, Adekanmbi, and other candidates under the APM platform, expressing optimism about their political fortunes amd landslide victory at the polls.
“We want the best, and I believe that since Adekanmbi is our governorship candidate, we will win. The same applies to the senatorial election and our other candidates. By the grace of God, we are going to win,” he said.
He added that the people would ultimately determine the outcome of the election through their votes, irrespective of financial inducements offered during campaigns.
“The people will collect whatever money is offered to them, it is their money and rights but they will make their own decisions when they get to the polling booths. Those bringing dollars from Abuja to influence the election will be disappointed at the end of the day,” Adepoju said.