Bolarinwa-Led Youth Directorate Welcomes Oju Inu Youth Movement Defectors from ADC, APC into APM

The Youth Directorate of the Makinde/Adekanmbi Campaign Organisation, led by its Youth Coordinator, Hon. Kazeem Bolarinwa, has received members of the Oju Inu Youth Movement who defected from the African Democratic Congress (ADC) and the All Progressives Congress (APC) into the Allied Peoples Movement (APM), in a major boost to the party’s growing grassroots support in Ibadan.

Speaking at the defection ceremony held at Adifase, Apata, Ibadan, Bolarinwa described the decision of the youth movement to join APM as a demonstration of confidence in the leadership of Governor Seyi Makinde and the need to sustain the developmental strides recorded under his administration.

He urged the new members to embrace the continuity agenda, insisting that Oyo State could not afford to abandon the development trajectory established by the present administration.

Bolarinwa, who played a leading role in receiving and integrating the defectors into the party’s political structure, called on them to take ownership of the movement by mobilising support for Governor Makinde, governorship hopeful Bimbo Adekanmbi and other APM candidates ahead of the 2027 general elections.

The defectors, drawn from Ibadan Southwest and Ido Local Government Areas, were formally welcomed by Bolarinwa alongside the Special Adviser to Governor Makinde on Security Matters, Hon. Abayomi Fagbenro, popularly known as Bibire; Hon. Ademola Ige and other party leaders.

Congratulating the new members, Bolarinwa commended their decision to align with a political movement he described as committed to continuity, stability and sustainable development. He maintained that the achievements of the Makinde administration in infrastructure, education, healthcare, security and workers’ welfare provided sufficient reasons for the people to support the continuity agenda.

He cited the construction and rehabilitation of major roads, the recruitment of more than 14,000 teaching and non-teaching personnel, the upgrade of primary healthcare centres and the expansion of security operations as notable achievements of the present administration.

The Youth Coordinator also praised Governor Makinde for his commitment to workers’ welfare, particularly the prompt payment of salaries, noting that the administration had demonstrated that effective governance must translate into improved living conditions for the people.

He further described Bimbo Adekanmbi as a credible choice to consolidate the achievements of the Makinde administration, stressing the importance of preserving the state’s development structure and sustaining policies that have positively impacted residents.

Bolarinwa called on the defectors to return to their respective communities, mobilise more young people and ensure that their support for APM translated into meaningful grassroots participation and electoral commitment.

In his remarks, Fagbenro congratulated the new members, describing their defection as a bold political decision for which future generations would be grateful. He urged them to work towards securing victory for APM candidates at all levels, adding that delivering their respective polling units would demonstrate their commitment to the party.

Fagbenro, who is the Deputy Chairman of the Security and Traffic Committee of the APM Presidential and Governorship Campaign Council, encouraged the defectors to take the party’s message to their communities and mobilise residents in support of the continuity agenda.

Also speaking, Hon. Ademola Ige commended Governor Makinde’s performance and urged residents to support his political aspirations while backing Adekanmbi in the governorship race. He assured the new members of equal opportunities and treatment within the party.

Speaking on behalf of the defectors, President of the Oju Inu Youth Movement, Tomiwa Alli, explained that the group had carefully assessed the political situation in Oyo State and the achievements of the Makinde administration before deciding to join APM.

Alli said the movement believed that the progress already recorded in the state deserved continuity and that changing the direction of governance could jeopardise the gains achieved so far.

He disclosed that the group has members across Ibadan Southwest and Ido Local Government Areas, adding that its decision to join APM was driven by its confidence in the continuity agenda.

Some of the defectors also expressed dissatisfaction with the direction of their former political parties, stating that they had found in APM a more convincing platform for the development of Oyo State. They declared their readiness to support Adekanmbi and other candidates of the party.

A major highlight of the ceremony was the symbolic burning of caps bearing the insignia of their former political parties, alongside APC brooms, to demonstrate their formal break from their previous affiliations and commitment to APM.

The event concluded with Bolarinwa, Fagbenro, Ige and other party leaders leading a solidarity walk from Adifase through parts of Apata, engaging residents and canvassing support for the Allied Peoples Movement.