The political landscape in Oyo State has witnessed a fresh wave of defections involving members and supporters of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Allied Peoples Movement (APM), Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and Accord ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The latest political realignments have seen party members, candidates and grassroots mobilisers switch allegiance in Oluyole and Ibadan North-East Local Government Areas.
In Oluyole, hundreds of APC and Accord members reportedly defected to the APM, while more than 1,000 APM members in the same local government area also moved to the APC.
Meanwhile, more than 3,000 members of the PDP and Accord in Ibadan North-East were also reported to have joined the APC.
The defections highlight the growing political activity in Oyo State as parties begin to strengthen their grassroots structures ahead of the 2027 elections.
APC, Accord Members Join APM in Oluyole
In Oluyole Local Government Area, hundreds of APC and Accord members joined the APM in a political mobilisation exercise led by Chief Adewale Alatise, popularly known as Afama.
Reverend Adeniyi Oluwarotimi, Temitope Emmanuel, Asasile Oluwabunmi and Alaba Isiaka were among those reportedly involved in the mobilisation of supporters into the APM.
Speaking after the reception of the new members, Alatise described the APM as a platform for politicians committed to what he called progressive politics.
The Oluyole APM chairman, Alhaji Hamzat Nasir, said the development had strengthened the party’s grassroots structure in the local government ahead of the 2027 elections.
The defectors were received by party leaders, including Nasir, the party’s chairmanship candidate, Hon. Olaide Settle, and the Oluyole Local Government Vice Chairman, Hon. Adeniyi Akorede.
APM Says Makinde’s Performance Driving Support
The APM House of Representatives candidate for Oluyole Federal Constituency and incumbent council chairman, Engr. Akeem Olatunji, said the party had intensified its ward-to-ward mobilisation across the constituency.
Olatunji attributed the party’s growing appeal to the administration of Governor Seyi Makinde, arguing that the government’s performance was contributing to the party’s acceptance among voters.
He also criticised the APC, accusing the party of relying on propaganda and political rhetoric while claiming that some of its members were now moving to the APM.
According to Olatunji, the new members included prominent grassroots political actors whose decision to join the APM would strengthen the party ahead of the 2027 elections.
Adelabu’s Former Aide Joins APM
Another notable defection in Oluyole involved Ajiboye Akande Sangogade, popularly known as Boye Nation, who led his supporters from the APC into the APM.
Sangogade, a former Personal Assistant to former Minister of Power Chief Adebayo Adelabu, said his decision was based on his personal political convictions and assessment of political developments in Oyo State.
He also declared support for Governor Seyi Makinde and the APM governorship candidate, Hon. Bimbo Adekanmbi.
Sangogade said his decision was motivated partly by his desire to create greater opportunities for young people to participate in politics.
He stressed that his defection was not connected to his relationship with his former principal.
According to him, he made the decision independently after assessing the political situation in the state.
Over 1,000 APM Members Defect to APC
While the APM was receiving new members in Oluyole, the APC also recorded a major influx from the same party.
More than 1,000 APM members reportedly defected to the APC under the leadership of Hon. Mustapha Kazeem, popularly known as Oba Oluyole.
The defection ceremony was held at the APC secretariat in Oke-Ado, Ibadan, where the new members were formally received by the APC state chairman, Otunba Moses Alake-Adeyemo, and members of the State Executive Committee.
Speaking on behalf of the defectors, Mustapha said they left the APM because of what he described as dissatisfaction with the political leadership in the state.
He also made allegations against Governor Makinde and some of his political associates while declaring support for the APC.
The APC chairman in Oluyole, Prince Dotun Oladipupo, presented the defectors to Adeyemo.
The APC state chairman subsequently welcomed the new members and urged them to put their differences aside and work towards the success of the party.
Over 3,000 PDP, Accord Members Join APC
The APC also recorded another major boost in Ibadan North-East Local Government Area, where more than 3,000 members of the PDP and Accord reportedly joined the party.
The PDP candidate for Ibadan North-East State Constituency II, Hon. Hammed Taoreed Ademola, popularly known as Lucky, and Accord aspirant Hon. Adedapo Ojo were among those who led their supporters into the APC.
Ademola said he decided to leave the PDP after assessing the political situation ahead of the 2027 election.
He said his assessment convinced him that the APC offered a stronger platform for candidates seeking political office in the next election.
Ojo similarly said he and his supporters had initially attempted to build Accord into a credible alternative in Oyo State but later concluded that the APC had a stronger political structure.
He said the group subsequently decided to join the APC after determining that remaining in Accord was unlikely to achieve their political objectives.
APC Promises Equal Opportunities
Receiving the new members, APC state chairman Moses Alake-Adeyemo assured them of equal opportunities within the party.
He urged the defectors to work towards the success of APC candidates during the 2027 general elections.
The APC governorship candidate in Oyo State, Senator Sharafadeen Alli, also welcomed the new members and said the party was prepared to accommodate politicians and supporters joining its ranks.
Alli promised an inclusive administration if elected governor, including regular payment of workers’ salaries and pensions, improved working conditions and increased investment in infrastructure.
He also promised to establish an ICT hub in Ibadan within six months of assuming office and replicate similar facilities in Oke-Ogun, Ogbomoso, Oyo and Ibarapa.
The APC candidate said his administration would prioritise infrastructure and basic amenities across Oyo State’s 33 local government areas.
He also promised properly equipped general hospitals as part of his proposed development agenda.
Oyo Politics Heats Up Ahead of 2027
The latest defections indicate an increasingly fluid political environment in Oyo State ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The movement of supporters between the APC, APM, PDP and Accord shows that political parties are already intensifying efforts to consolidate their grassroots structures and attract influential local actors.
With candidates and party leaders increasingly focused on ward-level mobilisation, further defections and political realignments could emerge as the 2027 election approaches.
For now, the latest movements have given both the APC and APM fresh claims of growing grassroots support, while the PDP and Accord face the challenge of retaining their political structures in key areas of the state.