By Ibrahim Kegbegbe
The Allied Peoples Movement (APM) Senatorial candidate for Oyo Central Senatorial District, Ambassador Olufemi Ajadi Oguntoyinbo, has pledged to strengthen his political alliance with elected councillors across the district, promising to make them central to his grassroots mobilisation strategy ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Ajadi made the commitment on Saturday during a strategic meeting with councillors from the 11 local government areas that make up Oyo Central Senatorial District, held in Ilora, the headquarters of Afijio Local Government Area of Oyo State.
Before proceeding to the strategic meeting with councillors, Ambassador Ajadi paid a courtesy visit to prominent leaders of the Allied Peoples Movement (APM) in Afijio Local Government Area at the residence of Elder Oloye Sunday Ogunlade.
The meeting brought together key party stakeholders, including the Afijio party chairmen and leaders: among the party stalwarts in attendance: Hon. Aikomo Femi; the Local Government Woman Leader, Mrs. Odelotan Mojirayo; Women Leader, Mrs. Adenike Olawuwo; Ward Chairman, Mr. Sunday Anigilaje; Hon. Akintunde Olatunde; Hon. Gbami; Hon. Sola Ogunmola; Hon. Tunde Ojo; as well as all ten ward chairmen and the ten ward women leaders from across Afijio Local Government Area.
The gathering focused on strengthening party unity, consolidating grassroots structures and mobilising support ahead of the 2027 general elections before the delegation joined the Oyo Central Councillors’ Forum meeting in Ilora.
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Addressing the councillors, the APM Senatorial candidate for Oyo Central Senatorial District said the meeting was convened to deepen collaboration with elected representatives at the grassroots and build a formidable political structure capable of delivering victory for the party from the presidential election down to the state legislative contests.
“I invited you because I want to fortify our relationship so that together we can deliver our presidential candidate, the senatorial candidate, House of Representatives candidates, the governor and members of the Oyo State House of Assembly,” Ajadi said.
The senatorial hopeful commended the councillors for keeping his political aspiration alive at the grassroots, saying their support had made his name popular across communities in the district.
“I appreciate the work of our councillors because today, in many households across Oyo Central, my name is being mentioned because of your efforts,” he said.
Ajadi assured the councillors that they would play active roles during the electioneering process, adding that discussions on their responsibilities would continue after consultations with his campaign Director General (DG).
“I am going to engage all the councillors in the forthcoming election. After meeting with my DG, we shall come back together to discuss the roles everyone will play,” he stated.
He further disclosed that the councillors should be expecting empowerment in all the 118 wards.
The APM candidate equally promised to support councillors aspiring to higher political offices in the future and announced plans to facilitate the provision of solar-powered facilities to all wards across Oyo Central Senatorial District.
Earlier, a prominent party leader in Oyo Central, Arowosaye Saheed Adeyemi, popularly known as AROSAD, described the gathering as a strategic step towards building a winning political structure rooted in the grassroots.
According to him, councillors remain the closest elected officials to the people and possess first-hand knowledge of political developments within their wards and polling units.
“On election day, as Ambassador Ajadi is calling me, likewise I will communicating with the councillors because they are the people who understand what is happening in every ward and polling unit,” AROSAD said.
He stressed that councillors have earned the trust of their constituents through years of community service and empowerment initiatives, making them indispensable to the success of any political campaign.
“Councillors are indispensable to this campaign because they have empowered many people in their communities and enjoy relationships with the grassroots that go beyond politics,” he added.
The meeting also provided an opportunity for councillors to make recommendations aimed at strengthening the party ahead of the 2027 elections.
The Speaker of the Legislative House of Afijio Local Government, Hon. David Adeyemo, explained that the Oyo Central Councillors’ Forum convened the meeting to engage directly with the party’s senatorial candidate on practical strategies for securing victory ahead 2027 general elections.
In his remarks, the Leader of the Legislative House of Egbeda Local Government and Councillor representing Ward 11, Hon. Olusola Adekunle Olakanmi, recalled that Ajadi was the first governorship aspirant in Oyo State to formally recognise and engage the Councillors’ Forum.
He said the meeting also served as an appreciation for Ajadi’s sustained recognition of councillors, describing the gesture as uncommon in the state’s political landscape.
The meeting, attended by councillors from Atiba, Afijio, Ogo-Oluwa, Ona-Ara, Egbeda, Oluyole, Akinyele, Lagelu, Oyo West, Oyo East and Surulere local government areas, began with an opening prayer by Hon. Adewuyi AbdulRahman, who prayed for divine guidance, good health and electoral victory for Ambassador Ajadi and other candidates of the party.
The councillors unanimously reaffirmed their commitment to mobilising support for the Allied Peoples Movement across Oyo Central, expressing confidence that stronger collaboration between the party leadership and grassroots representatives would enhance the party’s chances in the 2027 general elections.
