IBARAPA-EAST, OYO — A fresh political realignment has erupted in Ibarapa-East Local Government Area of Oyo State, as more than 1,000 supporters drawn from the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Remi Oseni Committee of Friends (RICOF) have defected to the Allied Peoples’ Movement (APM) ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The mass movement, led by the Omoluabi Political Movement under the leadership of Ambassador Ojewola Olawale, was formally announced on Wednesday, August 26, 2026, during a strategic political meeting attended by ward leaders, youth and women mobilisers, community stakeholders and supporters from across the local government.
The development followed what the group described as extensive consultations across wards and communities, culminating in a collective decision to align with the APM and support its candidates across the 2027 electoral contests.
Receiving the defectors, the APM candidate for Ibarapa-East/Ido Federal Constituency, Engr. Hon. Kolawole Sheu Adedeji (KSA), who arrived with party leaders and stakeholders from Ibarapa-East and Ido, conveyed the goodwill of the Oyo South Senatorial candidate of the APM, Hon. Adedeji Olajide Odidiomo.
Odidiomo welcomed the new members, describing the development as the beginning of a stronger political partnership, while urging them to deploy their grassroots structures towards securing victory for APM candidates in 2027.
KSA also commended the Omoluabi Movement for what he described as the courage to make a strategic political choice based on its assessment of the direction capable of delivering better outcomes for the people.
Speaking on behalf of the movement, its coordinator, Comrade Olaleye Gafar, said more than 1,000 registered members had resolved to follow the political direction of its founder, Amb. Ojewola Olawale.
Declaring the group’s loyalty to the new political platform, Gafar said: “Wherever you go, we go.”
He stressed that the movement was not driven by party colours, but by its search for leadership capable of delivering development, effective representation and opportunities to the people.
The declaration received backing from several ward leaders, including Comrade Odetunde Damilare of Aborerin Ward 4; Comrade Oke Lukmon Opeyemi of Anko; Mrs Ogundele Temitope of Isaba Ward 3; Comrade Oyerinde Emmanuel of Oke Oba Ward 1; and Adegoke Lateefa, Deputy Women Leader from Lanlate.
Elders and community stakeholders, including Pa Lawrence Okediran, Chief Ojelere Sunday, Hon. Leke Babatunde and other political figures, also endorsed the emerging alignment.
The climax was the unanimous adoption of APM candidates across board, with the Omoluabi Movement pledging to mobilise its members for the party’s senatorial, House of Representatives, State House of Assembly and other candidates in the 2027 elections.
The group also openly declared its loyalty to Governor Seyi Makinde and political leaders associated with the emerging alignment, particularly the APM Oyo South senatorial candidate, Hon. Adedeji Dhikrullahi Stanley Olajide Odidiomo.
The defectors maintained that their decision transcended a mere change of political platform, describing it instead as a new political direction anchored on dialogue, development and people-oriented leadership.
They argued that the 2027 elections should be determined by competence, character, proven track record and the capacity to deliver, rather than party sentiment alone.
