Makinde’s Former Chief Of Staff, Ogunwuyi, 32 Others Defect From APM To APC

The immediate past Chief of Staff to Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde, Segun Ogunwuyi, has defected from the Allied People’s Movement (APM) to the All Progressives Congress (APC), alongside 32 other party chieftains in Ogbomoso.

The defectors were received by APC leaders at an event in Ogbomoso on Tuesday.

Among those who joined the APC alongside Ogunwuyi were Rasak Gbadegesin, popularly known as Agbeti, a former Deputy Chief of Staff to the late Governor Adebayo Alao-Akala; Timothy Oyeniyi; Alabi Olateju; Banji Folaranmi; Isaiah Adegbite; and Peter Oyetunji.

Others included the APM Chairman of Ogbomoso North Local Government, Jimoh Sikiru, as well as council secretaries, chiefs of staff, supervisory councillors and special assistants to council chairmen in Ogbomoso North, Ogbomoso South, Surulere and Ogo-Oluwa local government areas.

Speaking on behalf of the defectors, Ogunwuyi said they joined the APC to strengthen the party and contribute to its electoral success.

“We came to the APC to add value to the party, and the APC will win convincingly in Ogbomoso Zone,” he said.

Welcoming the new members, the Oyo State APC Chairman, Moses Adeyemo, assured them of equal opportunities within the party.

He urged them to work towards the success of APC candidates in the 2027 general elections.

“Let me use this gathering to urge you all to work hard for the success of the APC candidates in the 2027 general elections,” Adeyemo said.

Also speaking, the APC governorship candidate, Sharafadeen Alli, described Makinde’s APM as a collapsing political structure, citing the defection of prominent figures from the party.

“For the likes of Segun Ogunwuyi, Rasak Gbadegesin (Agbeti) and other politicians of substance to abandon Governor Makinde, it means a lot, and I use this medium to tell the few who are still there to leave now and join us in the APC,” Alli said.

One of the defectors, Banji Folaranmi, accused the APM of being controlled by a single individual.

“I left APM because it is a one-man party. Only Governor Makinde is running the party,” he said.

Those present at the event included Alli’s deputy governorship candidate, Adesoji Adedeji; Oyo North senatorial candidate, Hannah Ogunesan; Segun Odebunmi; and Olamijuwon Alao-Akala.

Other attendees were Senator Ayoade Adeseun, Senator Brimoh Yusuf, wife of the late former governor, Kemi Alao-Akala; Olagunju Ojo; former APC state chairman, Akin Oke; Bashiru Akataapa; Aderemi Adepoju; Abiodun Adeyemo, popularly known as Obadoba; and members of the state APC executive committee.

Also present were the Director-General of the Senator Sharafadeen Alli Campaign Council, Yemi Aderibigbe, and his deputy, Sola Ogunbode.

The defection signals a realignment of political forces in Ogbomoso Zone ahead of the 2027 general elections, amid growing political activities and shifting allegiances as parties position themselves for the next governorship contest in Oyo State.