The Allied Peoples Movement (APM) supporters on Friday gathered in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, for the party’s primary election ahead of the 2027 general elections, where former commissioner, Abimbola Adekanmbi, emerged as the consensus governorship candidate.
The exercise was initially scheduled for both presidential and governorship primaries, only the governorship primary was conducted in what eventually became an affirmation of candidates rather than a competitive contest.
At the event, the Oyo State Chairman of the APM, Adegbenro Fagbemi, formally declared Adekanmbi as the party’s governorship candidate and presented him with a Certificate of Return.
Fagbemi also unveiled the party’s candidates for the Senate, House of Representatives and State House of Assembly positions, many of whom are members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) faction loyal to Governor Seyi Makinde.
This followed by an earlier Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between Makinde’s faction within the PDP and the national leadership of the APM, paving the way for the governor’s political camp to contest the 2027 elections on the APM platform.
Speaking at the event, Governor Makinde said the decision to align with the APM was a strategic move aimed at avoiding the internal crisis currently affecting the PDP.
According to him, conducting primaries under the PDP amid the lingering disputes within the party could have led to complications with the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
Makinde noted that INEC recognised and monitored the APM primary because the platform was free of internal disputes.
He advised Adekanmbi to build his own political identity rather than inherit political rivalries as he prepares for the 2027 governorship race.
The governor also urged the candidate to sustain and improve on the achievements of his administration where necessary.
In his acceptance speech, Adekanmbi pledged to consolidate on the developmental strides recorded under Makinde’s administration across critical sectors of the state’s economy.
He described the governor as the architect of modern Oyo State, commending his investments in infrastructure, education, healthcare, agribusiness, security and youth empowerment.
Adekanmbi stated that leadership should be measured by impact and service delivery rather than political rhetoric.
He assured party supporters that, if elected, his administration would focus on grassroots development, youth and women empowerment, industrialisation and expansion of key sectors such as education, healthcare, agriculture, tourism, commerce, technology and security.
The governorship candidate also appreciated the leadership of the PDP in Oyo State for maintaining political cooperation and mutual understanding over the years.
According to him, politics should not destroy relationships or undermine the collective goal of advancing the development of Oyo State.He commended the leadership of the APM for embracing what he described as a broader vision for the state and promised to run a peaceful campaign ahead of the 2027 elections.
