More than 200 former ward councillors who served during the administration of the late former Governor of Oyo State, Senator Abiola Ajimobi, have defected from the All Progressives Congress (APC) to the Allied Peoples Movement (APM), in a development that could reshape grassroots political alignments ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The defection, which took place in Ibadan, brings into the APM fold a significant number of former grassroots political officeholders with considerable experience in community engagement, political organisation and electoral mobilisation.
The movement was facilitated by two political mobilisers, Hon. Adeyemo Abass, popularly known as Adebass, and Hon. Afolabi Oyegbola, according to one of the defectors.
The defectors, while explaining their decision to join the APM, expressed confidence in the party’s capacity to provide a platform for responsive leadership, good governance and people-oriented development in Oyo State.
They described their decision as a commitment to a political platform they believe offers opportunities for meaningful participation and the advancement of the state’s development.
The former councillors were formally received by the Balogun Bobajiroro of Orile-Igbon, Otunba Seye Famojuro, a close ally of Governor Seyi Makinde; Chairman of the Association of Local Governments of Nigeria (ALGON), Oyo State chapter, Hon. Sikiru Sanda; Chairman of Ibadan North Local Government, Hon. Seun Olufade; Chairman of Olorunsogo Local Government, Hon. Qozeem Olayanju; and the Chairman of Iseyin Local Government, alongside other party stakeholders.
Speaking on behalf of the party leadership, the political leaders welcomed the new members into the APM, assuring them of fairness, equal opportunities and active participation in the party’s activities.
They urged the defectors to leverage their political experience and established grassroots connections to strengthen the party’s presence across their respective wards and local governments.
The leaders also emphasised the need for party discipline, loyalty and collective commitment, charging the new members to intensify grassroots mobilisation in support of all APM candidates in the forthcoming elections.
In their responses, the defectors pledged their loyalty to the APM, promising to deploy their political experience, community relationships and organisational strength towards expanding the party’s membership and influence across Oyo State.
The defection is significant not only because of the number of former councillors involved but also because of their previous political experience under the late Ajimobi administration.
As political activities gradually gather momentum ahead of 2027, the development highlights the continuing movement of political actors across party lines and the importance of grassroots structures in the battle for political relevance in Oyo State.
