A leader of the Obidient Movement and Labour Party chieftain in Oyo State, Sunday Oni, has led thousands of his followers and supporters into the All Progressives Congress (APC), pledging to mobilise for the party’s candidates ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Oni made the move in Ibadan on Wednesday, where he was received into the APC by the party’s Oyo State Chairman, Moses Adeyemo; its governorship candidate, Senator Sharafadeen Alli; and other party leaders, including Hon. Aderemi Oseni, the APC candidate for Oyo South Senatorial District.
The development was announced at an event attended by a large gathering of Oni’s supporters and APC members.
Multiple reports of the event confirmed his declaration and endorsement of the APC candidates.
Addressing the gathering, Oni said his decision followed his experience with the political alliance that supported Governor Seyi Makinde during the 2023 governorship election.
He said he played a key role in the alliance but regretted the outcome, alleging that Makinde failed to fulfil agreements reached with members of the Labour Party despite the risks and sacrifices they made during the election.
Oni said the Obidient Movement remained strong across Oyo State, recalling its mobilisation for Labour Party presidential candidate Peter Obi in the 2023 election.
“Everyone out there appreciates the fact that our Obedient Movement is strong and virile going by what we were able to do for the LP presidential candidate in 2023, Mr. Peter Obi, despite all odds but this time round, our efforts will be channeled in the cause of all APC candidates including President Bola Tinubu, Sen. Sarafadeen Alli, Hon. Remi Oseni and all others.”
He added that the group would immediately begin mobilisation and voter sensitisation in support of APC candidates.
According to Oni, those present at the event represented only a fraction of the group’s supporters across Oyo State.
“We are swinging into action immediately and I make bold to say that the crowd of LP and Obedient Movement members you are seeing here is just a small fraction of our entire population which cuts across the 33 local government councils in the state,” he said.
“We are not here for the fun of it, we are poised to add value and our impact shall be greatly felt in the areas of mobilization and sensitization of voters in favour of the APC.”
Responding, Alli commended Oni and other promoters of the Obidient Movement for joining the APC, describing the party as a platform capable of accommodating people from different backgrounds for leadership, democratic development and good governance.
Alli also outlined his plans for Oyo State if elected governor in 2027.
He said his long experience of the state, including his upbringing in Ibadan and close observation of developments in Oyo over several decades, would help his administration pursue what he described as a significant turnaround.
“Apart from the fact that I grew up on the streets of Ibadan, I have always been conversant with happenings in our dear state in close to 50 years of my adult life,” Alli said.
“With my high level of experience, expertise and zeal, Oyo State under me as governor from May 29, 2027 would witness a great measure of turnaround such that it would rank among the best three in the country in no time.”
The APC candidate also promised greater involvement of young people in governance, saying his running mate, Adesoji Adedeji, would be allowed to work in favour of the youth population.
He further promised that workers, pensioners and other residents would have what he described as improved welfare under his proposed administration.
“The youth population will be actively involved in everything we do as a government. Our deputy governorship candidate, Adesoji Adedeji, will be given the opportunity to work in favor of the youth population which he represents while workers, pensioners and other people in the state will have every cause to be comfortable and happy,” Alli said.
APC leaders who attended the event included Rt. Hon. Asimiyu Niran Alarape, Alhaji Taofeek Lamidi, Hon. Fatai Adesina, Dr. Adekemi Opatunde, Hon. Yemi Aderibigbe, Hon. Sola Ogunbode, Olawale Sadare, Hon. Tunde Oloyede, Alhaji Shina Alabi, Hon. Sunday Aborisade, Hon. Tunde Elegbede and Comrade Olalekan Oladejo.
Oni’s move comes as political parties and aspirants intensify mobilisation ahead of the 2027 elections.
