Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, has expressed confidence that the Allied People's Movement (APM) will emerge victorious in the 2027 general elections. He made this statement during the Boye Nation/JAF Movement Mega Concert, held at the Open Tennis Court of the Lekan Salami Sports Complex in Adamasingba, Ibadan, where thousands of defectors from the All Progressives Congress (APC) were formally received into the APM. Makinde noted that God, the people of Oyo State, and Nigerians at large are firmly behind the party.
The defectors, led by Ajiboye Sangogade, also known as Boye Nation, were drawn from several local government areas across Oyo State. They were welcomed into the APM by Governor Makinde, who advised the APC governorship candidate, Sharafadeen Alli, to focus on persuading the electorate to support him rather than criticizing his administration. Makinde also reiterated his earlier position that Alli is a mediocre lawyer, adding that the people of Oyo would not allow the state to regress.
During the rally, Makinde addressed criticisms that, as an engineer, he powers streetlights with diesel generators. He noted that if the APC-led Federal Government under President Bola Tinubu had successfully resolved Nigeria's electricity challenges, the situation would have been different. Makinde reminded Nigerians of Tinubu's campaign promise that he should not be re-elected if he failed to fix the nation's power problem.
The concert, themed "Young, United, Unstoppable," served as the official reception for Sangogade and his supporters into the APM. The mega concert featured performances by Fuji stars, including Alhaji Taye Currency, Alhaji Tiri Leather, and Babatunmise, among others. Dignitaries at the event included top government officials, serving members of the House of Representatives and the state House of Assembly, commissioners, APM leaders, and other government functionaries.
Also present at the event were the three APM senatorial candidates, Dhikrullahi Olajide, Shina Peller, and Ajadi Oguntoyinbo, as well as 14 APM House of Representatives candidates, 32 APM House of Assembly candidates, and the 33 APM local government chairmanship candidates. The governor expressed confidence that the APM candidate, Bimbo Adekanmbi, a certified accountant, would win the election, citing his professional qualifications.
In response to the rally, the APC described it as shameful, stating that it exposed the Makinde administration's insensitivity to public outcry and aversion to decent practices. The party berated the governor over the alleged forceful closure of many markets in Ibadan and coercion of traders, commercial motorists, and other residents to attend the rally.
The APC also criticized the use of the Adamasingba Stadium for the rally, citing its poor condition and the recent rejection by the Confederation of African Football for its matches. The party questioned the N5.5 billion spent on the stadium's rehabilitation, calling for a refund and a transparent re-award of the project to a competent contractor.
Key points
- Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde predicts APM victory in 2027 elections
- Makinde welcomes thousands of APC defectors into APM
- APC criticizes Makinde's administration for alleged insensitivity and poor practices
