Stakeholders of the Allied Peoples Movement (APM) in Ogbomoso North Local Government have reaffirmed their commitment to the party and pledged unwavering support for the party’s deputy governorship candidate, Alhaji Muftau Open Salawu.
The resolution was reached at the end of a strategic stakeholders’ meeting held in Ogbomoso, where party leaders reviewed the political situation in Oyo State and mapped out strategies for strengthening the party ahead of the forthcoming elections.
The stakeholders urged members to “put aside their grievances and personal differences and work collectively towards delivering overwhelming votes from Ogbomoso in the coming elections.”
Attendance at the closed-door session signalled a significant consolidation of regional influence.
Among those present were the Commissioner for Information and Civic Orientation, Prince Dotun Oyelade, and the Chairman of the Oyo State Local Government Service Commission, Bashorun Akinwale Akinwole.
The Chairman of Ogbomoso North Local Government, Hon. George Ogunlade, attended alongside his immediate predecessor, Hon. Kabir Ayoade, and former Commissioner for Works, Prof. Raphael Afonja.
Oyo State power balance hinges on local coalitions
The sudden alignment of former rivals behind a single campaign reflects a broader shift in Western Nigerian politics, where local government control directly dictates state-level leverage. Ogbomoso North represents a crucial swing geography; winning here allows a party to control the economic corridor linking the northern savannah with the state’s industrial centres.
By forcing a public display of unity, Oyo State APM stakeholders are attempting to insulate their ranks from defections to larger national parties. The strategy relies entirely on converting local grievances into shared opposition momentum before regional polling begins.
Driving the grassroots machinery
To secure the district, party coordinators have initiated a structural overhaul across all municipal wards. The campaign intends to use this unified front to counter the financial dominance of larger political machines through aggressive door-to-door voter registration drives.
The session concluded with organisers confirming that future campaign financing and rally schedules would be managed by a joint committee to prevent further internal friction.
The meeting ended with a renewed commitment by stakeholders to “remain united, support Open Salawu’s political aspirations and work tirelessly to secure massive electoral support for the APM across Ogbomoso and Oyo State.”
