Segun Ogunwuyi, the immediate- past Chief of Staff (CoS) to Oyo Governor Seyi Makinde, on Tuesday, led 32 other chieftains of the Allied People’s Movement (APM) to join the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ogbomoso.
Vehicular movement was halted for several hours as crowds of APC members and supporters trooped out to witness the top politicians officially join the APC at the rally held at Oja’Gbo in front of Soun Ogunlola Hall at the city centre.
Other chieftains who joined the APC include Alh. Rasak Gbadegesin (Agbeti); Hon. Timothy Oyeniyi; Hon. Alabi Olateju; Dr. Banji Folaranmi; Hon. Isaiah Adegbite; Hon. Peter Oyetunji ; APM Chairman, Ogbomoso North Local Government Hon. Jimoh Sikiru; all council secretaries, chiefs of staff, supervisory councillors, special assistants to the council chairmen in Ogbomoso North, Ogbomoso South, Surulere and Ogo-Oluwa Local Governments Areas of the state.
Ogunwuyi, who spoke on behalf of the decampees, said they came to APC to add value, stressing that APC will win convincingly in Ogbomoso Zone.
Welcoming them, the APC state chairman, Chief Moses Alake Adeyemo assured the defectors of equal opportunities. He urged them to work hard for the success of the APC candidates in the 2027 general elections.
One of the defectors, Dr. Banji Folaranmi, said he left APM because it is a one-man party, stressing that only Governor Makinde is running the party.
The defection marks a realignment of political forces in Ogbomoso Zone ahead of next year general election with odds in favour of the APC in Oyo State. The defection is expected to strengthen the opposition party’s grassroots structure across the zone.
Observers said the entry of Ogunwuyi, Gbadegesin and other political figures into the APC is expected to provide fresh momentum for the governorship ambition of Senator Sharafadeen Alli, the party’s candidate, while presenting a fresh challenge to the political influence of Governor Makinde and the APMin Ogbomoso and its environs.
The APC governorship candidate Senator Sharafadeen said Governor Seyi Makinde’s APM was a collapsing structure.
He said: ” For the likes of Hon. Segun Ogunwuyi, Alh. Rasak Agbeti and other politicians of substance to abandon Governor Makinde, it means a lot and I use this medium to tell the few ones that are still there to leave now and join us in the APC.”
Eminent APC leaders at the event include Senaator Ayoade Adeseun, Sen. Brimoh Yusuf, Chief Kemi Alao-Akala, Rt. Hon. Olagunju Ojo, Chief Akin Oke, Alh. Bashiru Akataapa, Hon. Aderemi Adepoju, Hon. Abiodun Adeyemo (Obadoba) and all Oyo APC Exco members.
The director-general of the Senator Sharafadeen Alli Campaign Council Asiwaju Yemi Aderibigbe and his deputy Hon. Sola Ogunbode, also attended the event.