The Allied People’s Movement (APM) Oyo State chapter has officially unveiled Ogbomoso-born politician and entrepreneur, Engr. Muftau Open Salawu, as its deputy governorship candidate ahead of the upcoming Oyo State 2027 general elections.
The party’s governorship standard-bearer, Hon. Bimbo Adekanmbi, presented his running mate to party leaders, members, stakeholders, and loyalists on Wednesday at the party’s Secretariat in Oke Ado, Ibadan.
Before commencing the political business of the day, Adekanmbi called for a minute of silence in honour of the slain teacher and security personnel who lost their lives to the recent Oriire Local Government abduction situation. He subsequently prayed for the government and security agencies to record swift success in safely rescuing the remaining abductees.
According to Adekanmbi, the selection of Open Salawu was strategically engineered so they could complement each other in the task of sustaining the progressive development of Oyo State.
He noted that this development trajectory was originally championed by Governor Seyi Makinde Omituntun 1.0 and Omituntun 2.0 initiatives over the last seven years. Lauding Governor Makinde for engineering a modern Oyo State with tremendous achievements in human capacity building and infrastructure development, Adekanmbi declared that his priority under Omituntun 3.0 would be the absolute continuity of good governance.
Adekanmbi maintained that the joint ticket would reliably deliver highly impactful projects across the state. These plans include rapid infrastructure development, prompt payment of civil servant salaries, improved healthcare delivery, quality public education, reinforced local security frameworks, and tourism development.
Joint Ticket Emphasises Administrative Continuity
The governorship candidate rallied members of the party and the teeming citizens of the state to support the coalition for victory at all levels. In his address highlighting the credentials of Open Salawu, Hon. Adekanmbi stated: “Governor Seyi Makinde has provided welfare for the citizens. He has also ensured security of lives and property, and it behoves on any serious administration to hand over to another capable government.
“That is the message of Omituntun 3.0, that we are a serious government, schooled and tutored by somebody who is a master in the art of governance, someone who has paid salaries regularly, provided infrastructure and security, and has also promoted agribusiness and tourism. In every area, he has scored excellently well.”
Adekanmbi further expanded on why the technical background of Open Salawu makes him uniquely suited for the role: “Now, he wants to hand over to a capable team. So, today we are unveiling the Deputy Governorship candidate, Engineer Muftau Open Salawu. He is a thoroughbred engineer, who served as the head of the state’s project monitoring team. All the projects that the residents of Oyo State are happy the government is providing through the governor, he has been monitoring them to ensure that they meet up with the standards.
“So, our team is a capable team that is loyal to the state. We have had Omituntun 1.0, accelerated development; we are experiencing Omituntun 2.0, sustainable development. Now, we are going to Omituntun 3.0, which will be about continued development.
It is only sensible that people who have been schooled, who have a track record, who have done it in the private and public sector, take over the reins of Oyo State from Governor Makinde.”
Strategic Coalition Formed for the Oyo State 2027 General Elections
Adekanmbi stated that the incoming administration is fully prepared for governance from day one due to their shared public and private sector experience. He stressed that the alliance represents a formal coalition of the PDP and the Oyo APM chapter.
“To the party members, we are selling value, competence and loyalty to Oyo State. We are promising security of lives and properties, the ability to go to work without fear. It is a coalition of the PDP and the Allied People’s Movement, APM,” he added.
Speaking immediately after his formal presentation as the running mate, Open Salawu urged party members to throw their full weight behind the ticket. He stressed that the coalition must win the state to sustain the current tempo of people-centred leadership. He called on all members to bury their internal hatchets, forget their past differences, and unite in the absolute interest of the state.
Accepting the nomination, Open Salawu remarked: “My dear leader, Governor Oluseyi Abiodun Makinde, from the depth of my heart, I sincerely appreciate this and I will not take it for granted.
“To the party chairman of APM, thank you for taking us, and by God’s grace, together we shall all celebrate on May 29th, 2027.
“Very distinguished guests, leaders of our parties, youths, women and gentlemen of the press, there is no other way I can thank you better, but just to share this word with you: whatever we are doing, whatever is our relationship, please, what is important in politics is winning.
“We have to win the next election; it is when we win the next election that we can sit down and start discussing positions. It is important to be in the house, rather than outside. A lot of aspirants could be vying for the same position but only one person would eventually win.
“So, I accept to deputise Hon. Bimbo Adekanmbi, and I promise that, together, we will take Oyo State to greater heights.”
Earlier, the Oyo State Chairman of APM, Otunba Adegbenro Fagbemi, described the alliance as the first of its kind in the state. His perspective was echoed by the Oyo State PDP Chairman, Hon. Dayo Ogungbenro, and the Chairman of the Oyo State Elders’ Council, Dr Saka Balogun, who both confirmed that Adekanmbi was chosen unanimously by party leadership without any internal imposition.
