The gubernatorial aspiration of Allied Peoples Movement’s Hon. Bimbo Adekanmbi received a major boost on Friday as hundreds of members of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Accord Party and the African Democratic Congress (ADC) formally defected to his party in Oyo State.
The decamping ceremony, held at Adekanmbi’s campaign office in Onireke, Ibadan, on Friday attracted political stakeholders, grassroots leaders, local government party executives, support groups and supporters from across the state, all declaring their support for Adekanmbi’s governorship ambition ahead of the 2027 general election.
Among the notable groups that joined the APM was the Olumba Socio Political Forum (OSPF), led by its Convener, Akinola Olumide, popularly known as Olumba. Members of the forum from Ido, Ibadan South-East, Ibadan North-West and Akinyele Local Government Areas formally dumped their former political parties to align with the APM.
Speaking on behalf of the decampees, Olumba, a former member of the APC and the Remi Oseni Council of Friends (ROCOF), said the decision to leave the APC was borne out of conviction and a desire to identify with a leader capable of sustaining Oyo State’s developmental strides.
He described the APC as “a golden casket that looks beautiful from the outside but has a very bad structure,” adding that the party lacks internal cohesion and genuine love among its members.
According to him, the decision to join the APM was influenced by Adekanmbi’s humility, competence and proven leadership qualities.
“When you are talking about humility, this man is humble. Talking about capability, we all know he is capable. From his records and profile, we know he has what it takes to govern Oyo State,” Olumba said.
He added that the growing acceptance of the APM across the state convinced him and his supporters that there was no need to remain in parties they believed had lost touch with the people.
“There is no vacancy in Oyo State in 2027. We believe there will be continuity, and we want to contribute our own quota to the development of the state through the APM,” he stated.
Olumba also commended Governor Seyi Makinde for what he described as remarkable achievements in infrastructure, agriculture, workers’ welfare and regular salary payments.
“Governor Seyi Makinde has really performed beyond doubt. We appreciate what he has done for Oyo State and we want that continuity. We believe Hon. Bimbo Adekanmbi can consolidate on those achievements and even surpass expectations,” he added.
Receiving the defectors, Adekanmbi expressed appreciation for the confidence reposed in his leadership and assured them that they had joined a movement committed to serving the people.
He promised that every genuine member of the party would enjoy the dividends of democracy, stressing that his administration, if elected in 2027, would build on the developmental foundation laid by Governor Seyi Makinde under the Omituntun agenda.
Adekanmbi maintained that the increasing wave of defections into the APM reflected the people’s desire for continuity rather than a return to old political practices.
He accused opposition parties of relying on vote buying rather than presenting credible alternatives to the electorate, noting that the support his movement enjoys is driven by conviction rather than financial inducement.
“I appreciate you for standing with us out of genuine love and conviction, not because of money. This movement is people-driven, and together we will continue the good work that has transformed Oyo State,” he said.
The gubernatorial hopeful urged the new members to immediately formalize their membership registration in the APM and ensure they obtained their Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) ahead of the 2027 general election.
The defection exercise came shortly after Adekanmbi hosted hundreds of Muslim faithful who observed the Jumat prayer at his campaign office in Jericho, Ibadan.
The event was attended by party stalwarts, local government chairmen, grassroots political leaders and members of various support groups from across Oyo State, underscoring what observers described as the growing momentum behind Adekanmbi’s governorship bid.
