An aspirant for the House of Representatives under the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Hon. Olaide Gold, has dumped the party and is set to lead hundreds of his supporters into the Allied Peoples’ Movement (APM) in Oluyole Federal Constituency, Oyo State.
This is coming barely 48 hours after hundreds of APC members, grassroots mobilizers and loyalists of the incumbent federal lawmaker representing the federal constituency, Tolulope Sadipe, defected into the APM.
Oluyole APM Chairman, Hon Nasiru Hamzat, received Gold and his delegation on behalf of the APM.
The defection, which is expected to be formally announced this week, is coming ahead of the 2027 general elections and is expected to strengthen the APM’s growing political structure and grassroots mobilisation drive in the constituency.
Gold, who was an ADC aspirant for the Oluyole Federal Constituency seat, led the group of defectors in concluding arrangements to join the APM following a meeting with the leadership of the party in the constituency.
The meeting was held at the Oluyole Local Government Multipurpose Hall, New Garage, Ibadan.
In his remarks, the LG Government Chairman, Engr. Akeem Olatunji, who is also the APM candidate for the House of Representatives seat in the constituency in the 2027 election, called for inclusiveness and unity in all party engagements.
He said the meeting was an avenue for both sides to finalise the terms and modalities for the defection, with the parties agreeing to unite and work together ahead of the election.
The defectors according to Olatunji, will be formally unveiled at an APM event scheduled to take place this week, where Gold and hundreds of members of his political structure across Oluyole are expected to be received into the party.
“Gold’s movement is particularly strategic and significant coming at a time political parties in Oluyole are intensifying grassroots mobilisation ahead of the 2027 elections, with major political camps seeking to consolidate their structures across the constituency.
“We’re very pleased and happy for their decision because politics aside, it is only a selfish politician that wants to work against a performing party and government as APM.
“We’ve assured them that there’s nothing like old or new members in APM, we’re all one and have equal rights in our party. They’re free to freely participate in all APM activities and duly benefit from the party as well.
“We know the strength of their political structure that is why we’re happy for them joining us. Hon. Gold is a politician I admire a lot considering his style of politics and vision for Oluyole. His style and vision align with ours and we believe together we will achieve the unimaginable,” Olatunji said.
Olatunji, who is seeking to represent Oluyole Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives on the APM platform, has in recent months intensified consultations and grassroots engagements across the constituency.
Speaking earlier, the APM chairman, Alhaji Nasiru said the defection is also expected to add to the series of political realignments currently ongoing in Oluyole as aspirants, political leaders, stakeholders and grassroots mobilisers have continued to engaged with the leadership of APM ahead of the elections.
While welcoming the defectors, Alhaji Nasiru commended their courage to stand up for what is right and in the overall interest of the people of Oluyole, assuring that their interests will be well protected in the party.
The formal reception of Gold and his supporters is expected to provide another opportunity for the APM to demonstrate its growing political presence in Oluyole and further expand its support base ahead of the 2027 contest.
In a similar development, non partisan youth in Oluyole on Monday paid a solidarity visit to the leadership of APM in the federal constituency and reaffirmed their confidence in the party’s leadership.
The youths, who were over one hundred in number, expressed delight and satisfaction in the political trajectory of APM and the leadership it is providing in terms of good governance while vowing to mobilize aggressively across all the 10 wards of the constituency to ensure a landslide and incontestable victory for all APM candidates.
APM leaders present at the meeting were the APM LG chairmanship candidate for the coming Council poll; Hon. Olaide Settle, Hon. Waheed Akintayo; House of Assembly member representing Oluyole state constituency, Hon Lukman Salawu; former state Assembly member, Engr Ayuba Balogun; former Commissioner for Industries and Science, Alhaji Mukaila Adegbola, Pastor Remi Adedapo, and Hon Fatai Ogunrin.
