2027: Makinde’s ex-CoS, APM chieftains defect to APC
The immediate past Chief of Staff to Governor Seyi Makinde, Segun Ogunwuyi, on Tuesday led 32 other chieftains of the Allied People’s Movement to the All Progressives Congress in Ogbomoso, Oyo State.
Other APM chieftains who defected to the APC alongside Ogunwuyi were the former Deputy Chief of Staff to the late former Governor Adebayo Alao-Akala, Rasak Gbadegesin, popularly called Agbeti, Timothy Oyeniyi, Alabi Olateju, Banji Folaranmi, Isaiah Adegbite and Peter Oyetunji.
The defectors also included the APM Chairman of Ogbomoso North Local Government, Jimoh Sikiru; all council secretaries, chiefs of staff, supervisory councillors, and special assistants to the council chairmen in Ogbomoso North, Ogbomoso South, Surulere and Ogo-Oluwa local government areas of the state.
Ogunwuyi, who spoke on behalf of other defectors, said, “We came to the APC to add value to the party, and the APC will win convincingly in Ogbomoso Zone.”
While welcoming them, the state APC chairman, Moses Adeyemo, assured the defectors of equal opportunities.
“Let me use this gathering to urge you all to work hard for the success of the APC candidates in the 2027 general elections,” he added.
Also speaking, the APC governorship candidate, Sharafadeen Alli, said Makinde’s APM was a collapsing structure.
He said, “For the likes of Segun Ogunwuyi, Rasak Gbadegesin (Agbeti) and other politicians of substance to abandon Governor Makinde, it means a lot, and I use this medium to tell the few who are still there to leave now and join us in the APC.”
One of the defectors, Banji Folaranmi, said, “I left APM because it is a one-man party. Only Governor Makinde is running the party.”
At the event were the deputy governorship candidate, Adesoji Adedeji; Oyo North senatorial district candidate, Hannah Ogunesan; Segun Odebunmi and Olamijuwon Alao-Akala.
Also at the rally were Senator Ayoade Adeseun, Senator Brimoh Yusuf, the wife of the late former Governor Alao-Akala, Kemi; Olagunju Ojo, former state APC chairman, Akin Oke, Bashiru Akataapa, Aderemi Adepoju, Abiodun Adeyemo (Obadoba) and all Oyo APC exco members; Director-General of the Senator Sharafadeen Alli Campaign Council, Yemi Aderibigbe and his deputy, Sola Ogunbode.
The defection marks a realignment of political forces in Ogbomoso Zone ahead of the 2037 general election.
The development comes amid intensifying political activities and shifting allegiances across the state as parties position themselves for the next governorship election.
