The Allied Peoples Movement (APM) Senatorial Candidate for Oyo Central, Ambassador Olufemi Ajadi Oguntoyinbo, has charged party faithful and returning decampees in Egbeda Local Government to close ranks ahead of the December 2026 Local Government election and the 2027 general elections.
Ajadi gave the charge at an APM Egbeda stakeholders’ meeting convened to formally receive new members who defected from the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Accord, the All Progressives Congress (APC) and Boye Nation.
In a statement shortly after the meeting, Ajadi urged old and new members to put behind them past disagreements and build a stronger, more united APM at the grassroots.
“Our doors are wide open to everyone who genuinely wants to contribute to the progress of Oyo State. I appeal to our old and new members to forgive past differences, embrace one another and build a united APM that can earn the trust of our people,” he said.
He called on members across the 11 wards of Egbeda to be active in ward meetings, engage residents directly and mobilise support for APM candidates, noting that discipline and sustained grassroots engagement would determine the party’s success.
“Let us not allow personal differences to distract us from the bigger picture. Our job is to reach the people, listen to them and work together for the victory of our candidates through peaceful and democratic participation,” Ajadi added.
Speaking at the meeting, the Executive Chairman of Egbeda Local Government and ALGON Chairman in Oyo State, Hon. Sikiru Oyedele Sanda, who also serves as Director-General of Ajadi’s Campaign Committee, confirmed that members who had earlier defected to ADC and Accord have returned to APM. He urged them to integrate fully and work with existing structures at ward, local and state levels.
Former House of Representatives member and Egbeda political leader, Hon. Busari Olayemi, expressed optimism over APM’s chances, linking the party’s growing cohesion to Governor Seyi Makinde’s leadership style and candidate-selection process. He urged members to support all APM candidates in the forthcoming polls.
Other leaders who spoke at the meeting include Hon. Ebenezer Olawale Alawe, who welcomed the decampees; Hon. Mogaji Ganiyu Gbolagade, who appealed for forgiveness among aggrieved members; Hon. Samson Oladele, Chairman of Ward Chairmen in Egbeda, who affirmed the party’s strength across the 11 wards; and the Commissioner for Lands, Housing, Survey and Urban Development, Hon. Williams Akin-Funmilayo, who charged members to intensify ward-to-ward campaigns.
The meeting was attended by the Deputy Majority Leader of the Oyo State House of Assembly, Hon. Olasunkanmi Babalola; supporters of the APM House of Representatives candidate for Egbeda/Ona-Ara Federal Constituency, Hon. Ezekiel Temitope Oladimeji (Otope); the APM Chairmanship candidate for Egbeda, Hon. Ibrahim Oladebo (Simple); Egbeda political leader, Alhaji Lukman Akinpelu; and the Chief of Staff to Egbeda Local Government, Hon. Siyanbola Kabiru.