Oyo South Senatorial Candidate of the Allied Peoples’ Movement (APM), Hon Adedeji Dhikrullahi Olajide (Odidiomo), has declared an ambitious 250,000-vote target for the Oyo South 2027 election during a meeting in Ibadan.
The two-term House of Representatives member, representing Ibadan North-West/Ibadan South-West, announced the figure to supporters at his residence. The target would more than double the highest tally previously recorded in the senatorial district’s electoral history.
Hon Olajide told members of the local Teachers’ Forum that structural expansion makes the figure achievable.
“I am looking for 250,000 votes. The highest votes ever recorded in Oyo South stand at about 115,000, but I intend to raise that bar. Once we deliver Oyo South, the victory of our governorship candidate, Hon. Bimbo Adekanmbi, becomes a done deal. Our target is achievable because our structure is expanding and our message is solid with the people,” he said.
Addressing his political relationship with Governor Seyi Makinde, Olajide reaffirmed his position, citing guidance from prominent Ibadan elders, including Chief Kola Daisi, Chief K.O. Olatunji, and Baba Champion.
My loyalty to Governor Seyi Makinde is undivided. I rose with him, and I can never be part of anything that will undermine his political future. I stand by loyalty because it is one of the principles that define my life,” he declared.
The visit was organised by the Odidiomo Movement Teachers’ Forum. Co-ordinator Mr Olaide Samuel Olayinka confirmed the group’s intention to mobilise grassroots support across the district’s local government areas.
Oyo South 2027 Election: Grassroots Realignment in Ibadan
The ambitious voter target reflects broader shifts within South-West Nigeria’s electoral dynamics. Traditionally, senatorial contests in the region hinge on turnout within Ibadan’s densely populated urban core, where voter participation historically fluctuates based on alliance structures rather than party loyalty alone.
By setting a target of 250,000 votes, the Allied Peoples’ Movement seeks to fundamentally alter the baseline required to secure the district. If achieved, this strategy would compel rival coalitions to restructure their turnout models across the state’s most influential commercial zone.
Electoral Arithmetic and Strategic Alliances
Turnout data across recent cycles shows that Oyo South rarely sees a single senatorial candidate cross the 120,000-vote threshold. The district comprises nine local government areas, spanning both urban metropolitan sectors and semi-rural peripheral wards.
Success in these zones requires sustained alignment with key public sector groups, particularly educators and municipal unions, who frequently serve as local mobilisers during election cycles.
The explicit alignment between third-party candidates and incumbent state leadership illustrates the complex cross-party negotiations shaping local political structures ahead of the national polls.
