Makinde receives APC defectors, says APM enjoys wide support

By Adejayan Gbenga

Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, has expressed confidence in the Allied Peoples Movement’s prospects in the 2027 general elections, saying the party enjoys the support of the people.

Makinde spoke Monday at the Boye Nation/JAF Movement Mega Concert held at the Open Tennis Court of the Lekan Salami Sports Complex, Adamasingba, Ibadan, where he received thousands of All Progressives Congress members who defected to the APM.

The defectors, led by Ajiboye Sangogade, popularly known as Boye Nation, were drawn from several local government areas across the state. Sangogade is a personal assistant and loyalist of former Minister of Power, Adebayo Adelabu.

Makinde described the defection as an indication of growing support for the APM ahead of the 2027 elections. He also urged the APC governorship candidate, Senator Sharafadeen Alli, to focus his campaign on the party’s candidate, Bimbo Adekanmbi, rather than his administration.

The governor criticised Alli’s professional record and contrasted it with Adekanmbi’s background as an accountant, urging voters to consider the credentials of the candidates ahead of the election.

Makinde also defended the use of diesel-powered generators to operate streetlights across the state, saying the measure was necessary because of the country’s electricity challenges. He argued that Oyo would not need diesel generators for street lighting if the Federal Government had resolved the power situation.

Recalling President Bola Tinubu’s campaign promise on electricity, Makinde said the failure to address the power challenge had contributed to the continued reliance on generators. “If he had fulfilled that promise, we would not be powering streetlights with diesel,” he said.

The concert, themed “Young, United, Unstoppable,” featured performances by Fuji artistes, including Taye Currency, Tiri Leather, Babatunmise, Ajeseun Band and Aare Rasaq Ayanfe. Government officials, APM leaders and candidates, including the party’s three senatorial candidates, 14 House of Representatives candidates, 32 House of Assembly candidates and 33 local government chairmanship candidates, attended the event.