Olopoeyan questions Makinde’s link with Obi, rejects governor’s presidential bid
By Adejayan Gbenga
A chieftain of the Allied Peoples Movement in Oyo State, Alhaji Bisi Olopoeyan, has questioned the relationship between Governor Seyi Makinde and Peter Obi, the 2027 presidential candidate of Nigeria Democratic Congress, following the launch of Makinde’s presidential campaign office.
Olopoeyan described the launch as an “unserious movie scene” and questioned why Obi, whom he said was not an APM member, was invited to speak at the event. Speaking during an interview with Capt. Peter Olasupo P2 on “Eto Oselu,” a political programme circulating online, he asked who was coordinating for whom between Makinde and Obi.
“Governor should come out and explain why Obi was there. Who is the coordinator of who, who is coordinating for the other among them?” he said. Olopoeyan said it was unusual for a presidential candidate from another political platform to attend the launch of another candidate’s campaign office and speak from the podium, adding that he would not support Makinde’s presidential ambition.
Meanwhile, Olopoeyan dismissed claims that the recent Boye Nation/JAF concert represented an influx of new members into the APM. He said the event was primarily a concert attended by artistes and their fans, although some political candidates were present, adding that no state, local government or ward party executives were involved in registering new members.
“It was just a concert. There were no new members. The artistes that were there had their fans come to watch. The concert was hijacked from Boye to do their campaign,” he said. He also described Otunba Seye Famojuro as an associate of Makinde, alleging that his perceived influence stemmed largely from his closeness to the governor, while claiming that party chairmen were not invited to the concert.
On the crisis within the Oyo APM, Olopoeyan said the party was not responsible for the dispute, alleging that politicians who joined through an alliance later sidelined the original party structure. He said many ward and local government executives had followed him from the New Nigeria Peoples Party and formed part of the structure that existed before the alliance with politicians from the Peoples Democratic Party.
According to him, disagreements became particularly serious over the distribution of political positions, including local government chairmanships and councillorships. He claimed his group requested a share of the available positions but alleged that Makinde told him they would receive no positions apart from retaining his supervisor. He added that his faction invited the Independent National Electoral Commission to its primary election and questioned the authority of the Oyo State Independent Electoral Commission in the dispute.
On the 2027 Oyo governorship race, Olopoeyan said he had not declared support for any candidate and would make his decision when the time came. He named Bimbo Adekanmbi, Sen. Sharafadeen Alli, Adegboyega Taofeek and Oriyomi Hamzat among politicians close to him, describing Adekanmbi, the APM governorship candidate, as his younger brother despite their current lack of communication. He also criticised the “Omituntun 3.0” branding associated with the proposed next administration, saying Makinde’s successor should begin on a fresh note rather than continue the governor’s political identity.
