Thousands of All Progressives Congress (APC) supporters, led by Ajiboye Sangogade (popularly known as Boye Nation), have defected to the Allied Peoples Movement (APM) in Oyo State.
The defectors were formally received by Governor Seyi Makinde on Monday during the Boye Nation/JAF Movement Mega Concert held at the Open Tennis Court of the Lekan Salami Sports Complex in Adamasingba, Ibadan.
Sangogade, a personal assistant and loyalist of former Minister of Power Adebayo Adelabu, led the group drawn from several local government areas across the state.
Receiving the new members, Makinde expressed confidence that the influx would strengthen the APM ahead of the 2027 general elections. He said the large turnout signalled growing support for the party and predicted victory “across the board.”
“God has signed off on what we are doing, and that is why it is raining. Today, we are welcoming thousands of APC members into the Allied People’s Movement (APM), and this shows that our victory is only a matter of time. We will win massively in all elections in 2027,” the governor said.
Makinde advised APC governorship candidate Sharafadeen Alli to concentrate on challenging APM’s candidate, Bimbo Adekanmbi, rather than criticising his administration. He urged Alli to focus on persuading Oyo residents to support his bid.
The governor renewed his criticism of Alli’s professional standing, describing him as a mediocre lawyer and questioning his record. Makinde contrasted his own status as a Fellow of the Nigerian Society of Engineers with Adekanmbi’s qualification as a Fellow of the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants, noting that Alli is not a Senior Advocate of Nigeria.
Responding to criticism over the use of diesel-powered generators for streetlights in parts of the state, Makinde blamed the Federal Government’s failure to resolve Nigeria’s electricity challenges. He referenced President Bola Tinubu’s campaign promise to fix power supply within four years, saying fulfilment of that pledge would have eliminated the need for diesel generators.
The event, themed “Young, United, Unstoppable (YUU),” also served as the official reception of Sangogade and his supporters into the APM. It featured performances by Fuji artistes including Taye Currency, Tiri Leather, Babatunmise, Ododo Emi, Ajao Samson Ajeseun Band and Aare Rasaq Ayanfe.
Government officials in attendance included Secretary to the State Government Musibau Babatunde, Chief of Staff Segun Ogunwuyi, members of the National Assembly and Oyo State House of Assembly, commissioners, APM leaders and other functionaries.
Also present were APM senatorial candidates for Oyo South, Oyo North and Oyo Central — Dhikrullahi Stanley Olajide Odidiomo, Shina Peller and Ajadi Oguntoyinbo — as well as 14 APM House of Representatives candidates.