The Minister of State for Works, Bello Muhammad Goronyo, has urged Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, to join the All Progressives Congress (APC), saying the move would enable the state to align more closely with the Federal Government.

Goronyo made the call on Monday during the flag-off of the dualisation of the Ibadan-Ijebu Road in Ogun State, where President Bola Tinubu was represented by Ogun State Governor, Dapo Abiodun.

Makinde, who is seeking to contest the 2027 presidential election on the platform of the Allied Peoples Movement (APM), was absent from the event.

While commending Abiodun for his contributions to the development of Ogun State and the wider region, Goronyo said the APC-led Federal Government was accelerating infrastructure development across the country.

“The central train of development is moving fast under our progressive banner,” the minister said.

He subsequently invited Makinde to defect to the ruling party, describing it as an opportunity to bring Oyo State closer to the Federal Government under Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.

“I therefore warmly welcome and openly invite His Excellency the Governor of Oyo State, Mr Engineer Seyi Makinde, to take the natural giant step into the All Progressives Congress, the APC,” Goronyo said.

“Come and align Oyo State fully with the centre under the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu.”

Makinde is currently seeking the presidency on the APM platform ahead of the 2027 general election, amid ongoing political realignments across the country.

The minister’s invitation came as federal and state officials gathered for the commencement of the dualisation project, which is expected to improve road connectivity between Ibadan in Oyo State and Ijebu in Ogun State.

Among the dignitaries at the event were the Minister of Works, Dave Umahi; the Olubadan of Ibadan, Oba Rasheed Ladoja; Ogun State Deputy Governor, Alhaja Noimat Salako; and the APC governorship candidate in Oyo State, Sharafdeen Abiodun Ali.