The leader of the Obedient Movement in Oyo State, Sunday Oni, has dumped the Labour Party (LP) for the All Progressives Congress (APC).

Oni, who led thousands of his supporters into the APC, also pledged to mobilise support for the party’s candidates ahead of the 2027 general elections.

He made this known on Wednesday in Ibadan while formally declaring his support for the APC.

The former Labour Party stalwart was received into the party by the APC state chairman, Moses Adeyemo; the party’s governorship candidate, Senator Sharafadeen Alli; the party’s candidate for Oyo South Senatorial District, Aderemi Oseni, and other leaders of the party.

Explaining his decision, Oni said his experience following the political alliance that supported Governor Seyi Makinde in the 2023 election contributed to his decision to leave the Labour Party.

He alleged that members of the Labour Party who participated in the alliance were left disappointed after the election, claiming that agreements reached with them were not fulfilled.

Oni said the Obedient Movement had demonstrated its organisational strength during the 2023 presidential election through its support for the Labour Party presidential candidate, Peter Obi.

He, however, said the movement would now deploy its mobilisation structure in support of APC candidates in 2027.

He said, “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 channelled to the cause of all APC candidates, including President Bola Tinubu, Senator Sharafadeen Alli, Hon Remi Oseni and all others.

“We are swinging into action immediately. 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.

“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 mobilisation and sensitisation of voters in favour of the APC.”

Speaking at the event, Alli welcomed Oni and his supporters into the APC, describing their decision to join the party as a significant step.

He said the APC was open to people from different political backgrounds who were interested in contributing to governance and development.

Alli also spoke about his plans for Oyo State if elected governor in 2027, promising greater participation of young people in his administration.

He said, “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.

“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.”

The APC governorship candidate also promised to give attention to young people, workers, pensioners and other groups in the state.

He said his running mate, Adesoji Adedeji, would be given the opportunity to play an active role in addressing issues affecting the youth population.

The event was attended by several APC leaders, including former Speaker of the Oyo State House of Assembly, Asimiyu Niran Alarape; Taofeek Lamidi; Fatai Adesina; Adekemi Opatunde; Yemi Aderibigbe; Sola Ogunbode; Olawale Sadare; Tunde Oloyede; Shina Alabi; Sunday Aborisade; Tunde Elegbede and Olalekan Oladejo.

The Senator Sharafadeen Alli Campaign Organisation has told the Allied Peoples Movement to first “find its feet” politically before presenting Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, for the 2027 presidential election, accusing the governor of allegedly paralysing the 33 local government areas in the state.

The organisation said the APM’s endorsement of Makinde was coming at a time when the governor’s record at the grassroots was already being questioned, particularly over the running of the local government system.

The campaign organisation made its position known in a statement by its Director of Media and Publicity, Bisi Oladele, in reaction to the APM’s call on President Bola Tinubu to step aside for Makinde.

Oladele said it was not enough for the APM to declare support for a presidential aspirant, arguing that the party must first demonstrate that it had the political structure and nationwide reach required to prosecute a serious presidential campaign.

According to him, a candidate seeking to lead Nigeria should first be able to point to a convincing record of governance and political strength at home.

He said, “APM’s Makinde is averse to the third tier of government in Nigeria, and this is evident in his seven-year anti-local government administration in Oyo State.

“Declaring an ambition is one thing; building the political structure required to prosecute a nationwide presidential election is another entirely.

“The APM should tell Nigerians how extensive its electoral structures are across the federation and demonstrate its capacity to compete effectively across the states and the Federal Capital Territory.”

The organisation made the 33 local government areas in Oyo State the centre of its criticism of Makinde, saying the local government remains too important to be reduced to a political talking point.

It argued that local governments were the closest level of government to the people and should serve as the main vehicle for taking development to communities.

The statement added, “More importantly, even Governor Seyi Makinde, whom the APM now parades as its presidential candidate, has serious political battles to fight in his home state of Oyo where he has paralyzed the 33 local governments in the last seven years.

“In fact, he is gasping for breath politically in the state.

“A man seeking to conquer Nigeria must first demonstrate compelling political strength on his own turf. Charity, as the saying goes, begins at home.”

The Alli campaign organisation further questioned the APM’s capacity to mount a nationwide presidential campaign, asking the party to demonstrate its electoral presence across the country rather than relying on public statements.

It also said the 2027 presidential election would provide Nigerians with an opportunity to examine the records, policies and programmes of the various contenders.

The organisation cited the student loan scheme, establishment of new federal universities, construction of highways and reconstruction of inter-state and inter-city roads as some of the initiatives it said would feature in the assessment of the Tinubu administration.

It maintained that political power at the federal level should not be viewed separately from what candidates had done at the grassroots.

The statement said whoever aspired to lead Nigeria must be prepared to administer the country’s 768 local government areas and the six Area Councils of the Federal Capital Territory.

The APM had not, as of the time of filing this report, responded to the allegations made by the Alli campaign organisation.