A coalition of former local government councillors from the Oke-Ogun region of Oyo State has reaffirmed its support for Governor Seyi Makinde, the Allied Peoples Movement (APM), the party’s presidential flagbearer, its gubernatorial candidate, Hon. Bimbo Adekanmbi, Oyo North senatorial candidate, Hon. Shina Peller, and other candidates of the party ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The former councillors declared their continued allegiance to the political camp during a strategic meeting held on Thursday at the Iseyin residence of Peller, the Ayedero of Yorubaland, where they dismissed reports suggesting that the entire group had defected from the APM to the All Progressives Congress (APC).
The meeting brought together former elected representatives and grassroots political stakeholders who served between 2021 and 2024. According to participants, 65 out of the 105 former councillors across the region attended the gathering to publicly clarify their political position and reaffirm their commitment to the APM.
The gathering was characterised by expressions of solidarity, political realignment discussions and renewed commitments to grassroots mobilisation as political parties begin consolidating their structures ahead of the 2027 elections.
At the centre of the meeting was the controversy surrounding reports of a purported mass defection of former councillors from the APM to the APC, a development that had generated questions about the political loyalty of grassroots stakeholders in the Oke-Ogun axis.
Addressing the gathering, Hon. Salau Nurudeen Alowonle, who represented Ward 10, Owode Ipapo, in Itesiwaju Local Government Area, described the reports as misleading, insisting that the alleged defection did not represent the position of the majority of the former councillors.
Alowonle maintained that the 65 former councillors who attended the meeting remained committed to the APM and continued to support Makinde and the party’s candidates ahead of the forthcoming elections.
He argued that the political decisions of a minority could not be presented as the collective position of all former councillors in the region, stressing that the group’s gathering was intended to correct what he described as a misrepresentation of its political standing.
According to him, the majority remained firmly aligned with the APM and was prepared to work towards the party’s electoral success across Oke-Ogun and other parts of Oyo State.
Former Chief Whip dismisses defection reports as propaganda
Also speaking, Hon. Abiola Khaleed Olaosepin, a former Chief Whip, reinforced Alowonle’s position, describing the reports of a collective defection as propaganda intended to create the impression of division within the group.
Olaosepin reaffirmed the coalition’s support for Makinde, Adekanmbi, Peller and all other APM candidates, maintaining that the group’s political commitment remained intact despite the controversy.
He said the former councillors were prepared to deploy their grassroots networks, political experience and community relationships to strengthen the party’s presence across the region.
The former Chief Whip emphasised that local government-level political structures remained important to electoral mobilisation, noting that former councillors maintained connections with communities, ward leaders and residents that could influence political participation and campaign organisation.
He added that the coalition would intensify engagement with supporters and party stakeholders to ensure that the APM’s candidates received broad grassroots backing during the 2027 elections.
The group’s declaration is significant against the backdrop of increasing political competition in Oyo State, particularly in Oke-Ogun, where party structures, local alliances and the mobilisation of community-level political actors are expected to play important roles in determining electoral outcomes.
Oyewola urges unity, grassroots mobilisation
Another prominent stakeholder, Hon. Oyewola Kemi, urged members and supporters of the APM to disregard what she described as attempts by political opponents to create confusion within the coalition.
Oyewola said the presence of 65 former councillors at the meeting demonstrated the group’s determination to maintain a common political direction and support the party’s candidates.
She described the former councillors as an important political bloc whose collective experience and grassroots connections could contribute to the party’s electoral fortunes.
According to her, the coalition’s priority should be to strengthen internal unity, deepen engagement with voters and mobilise support for the APM across the various local government areas of Oke-Ogun.
She maintained that sustained grassroots organisation, rather than political speculation and competing claims, would be critical to the party’s performance in the 2027 elections.
The coalition also expressed confidence that its continued cooperation would help consolidate the party’s political base and improve its ability to communicate its programmes and electoral promises to residents.
Shina Peller appreciates former councillors
Responding to the show of solidarity, Peller expressed appreciation to the former councillors for attending the meeting and publicly reaffirming their support for Makinde, Adekanmbi, himself and other APM candidates.
He described their commitment as an important contribution to the party’s political organisation and broader development aspirations for Oke-Ogun, Oyo State and Nigeria.
Peller acknowledged the significance of maintaining relationships with grassroots stakeholders, noting that political structures built on sustained engagement and cooperation could help advance the interests of communities.
He also urged the former councillors to remain united and focused on the party’s objectives as preparations for the next general elections gather momentum.
The APM senatorial candidate subsequently used the occasion to criticise the APC, accusing the opposition party of being disconnected from the needs and expectations of ordinary Nigerians.
Peller argued that the APC had failed to present a sufficiently convincing alternative to address the country’s pressing challenges, expressing confidence in the APM as a platform capable of offering a different political direction.
His remarks underscored the increasingly competitive tone of political engagement ahead of the 2027 elections, with party leaders seeking to consolidate their support bases while challenging the credibility and performance of rival political organisations.
Peller describes departure of 35 former councillors as a blessing
Reacting to the reported departure of 35 former councillors from the group’s political fold, Peller described the development as a blessing in disguise, arguing that the continued commitment of the majority was more important than the loss of a smaller faction.
He maintained that the 65 former councillors who reaffirmed their allegiance represented a substantial bloc capable of contributing to the APM’s grassroots mobilisation efforts.
According to him, political strength should be measured by the commitment of members who remain willing to work together towards shared objectives, rather than by the numerical claims surrounding defections.
Peller portrayed the APM as a vehicle for political change and service, expressing confidence that the party could attract broader support by positioning itself around the aspirations of Nigerians.
However, the political implications of the reported division among the former councillors will ultimately depend on the ability of the competing groups to translate their respective claims of support into effective campaign structures and votes at the polls.
Coalition passes vote of confidence on APM leadership
The meeting concluded with the former councillors passing a collective vote of confidence in Makinde’s leadership and expressing support for the political direction being pursued by the APM ahead of the 2027 elections.
The participants pledged to sustain cooperation among members of the coalition and intensify grassroots mobilisation in support of Adekanmbi, Peller and other candidates contesting on the party’s platform.
The gathering also served as an opportunity for the former councillors to clarify their position amid the controversy surrounding alleged defections, while reaffirming their determination to remain politically active in the region.
For the APM, the declaration represents an attempt to demonstrate organisational continuity and grassroots support in Oke-Ogun at a time when political parties are working to strengthen alliances and consolidate their positions ahead of the next electoral cycle.
Nevertheless, the attendance figures and declarations of allegiance presented at the meeting remain claims made by the participants and were not independently verified in the information available for this report.
