Stakeholders of the Allied Peoples Movement (APM) in ATISBO LGA of Oyo State have reaffirmed their loyalty to Governor Seyi Makinde, endorsed Hon. Bimbo Adekanmbi as their preferred successor in the 2027 governorship election and declared support for the governor’s presidential ambition.
The stakeholders also passed a vote of confidence in Makinde’s administration, while appealing to him to retain the commissioner’s slot allocated to Atisbo following the resignation of the former Commissioner, Ayobami Ojo.
These resolutions were contained in a communiqués issued after an emergency meeting of the ATISBO LG APM Stakeholders’ Forum, held on Tuesday, November 3, 2026, at the Local Government Secretariate, Tede.
The meeting, which commenced at 4:00 p.m., brought together party leaders, elders, former political office holders, youth and women leaders, as well as other critical stakeholders drawn from the 10 wards of the local government.
In expressing their disappointment over Ojo’s resignation, the stakeholders faulted his decision to leave the State Executive Council without consulting party leaders and other political stakeholders in the local government, particularly considering their collective contributions towards his appointment by Governor Makinde.
They, however, maintained that the development would not affect their relationship with the governor, declaring their continued commitment to his leadership and the APM political platform.
The stakeholders attributed their position to what they described as significant developmental interventions by the Makinde administration in ATISBO LG, a local government they said had experienced years of neglect before the present administration.
Among the projects highlighted were the upgrade of the former cottage hospital in Tede to a general hospital at an estimated cost of N500 million, the reconstruction of the previously abandoned Okudi-Saki access road in Tede and the establishment of a Mobile Police detachment in Ago-Are.
They also cited the ongoing construction of a multi-billion-naira police barracks, alongside political appointments and employment opportunities secured by several indigenes of the local government.
Consequently, the forum appealed to Makinde to retain Atisbo’s commissioner’s slot, insisting that the local government had competent and committed individuals capable of representing its interests in the State Executive Council.
On the 2027 political permutations, the stakeholders declared their total support for Makinde’s presidential ambition, expressing the belief that his experience in governance and the administration’s achievements in Oyo State had positioned him for a proposed national leadership responsibility.
They pledged to mobilise support for the governor across Atisbo, Oke-Ogun and other parts of Oyo State.
The communiqué stated: “We believe that after his outstanding performance in Oyo State, Governor Makinde has the capacity, experience, courage and vision to lead Nigeria to greater heights. We therefore endorse him as our sole presidential candidate and pledge to mobilise massively across Atisbo, Oke-Ogun and Oyo State to ensure his success.”
Similarly, the stakeholders declared their support for Hon. Bimbo Adekanmbi as Makinde’s preferred successor in the 2027 Oyo State governorship election, describing him as a political figure familiar with the administration’s policy direction and governance philosophy.
They argued that Adekanmbi had been groomed within the Omituntun political structure and possessed an understanding of the administration’s development agenda.
“We believe that Hon. Bimbo Adekanmbi has been groomed under the Omituntun leadership, understands the vision of good governance, and has the capacity to sustain and consolidate the legacies of Governor Makinde in Oyo State,” the communiqué added.
The forum consequently pledged to work towards Adekanmbi’s emergence, maintaining that continuity, political stability and the sustenance of ongoing development projects informed its position.
The stakeholders also passed a vote of confidence in Makinde’s administration under the Omituntun 2.0 agenda, commending what they described as its interventions in infrastructure, education, healthcare, agribusiness, security and workers’ welfare.
On party cohesion, they urged members to remain united, disciplined and loyal under Makinde’s leadership and the APM platform, while condemning alleged anti-party activities and factional tendencies capable of undermining the party’s organisational structure.
They further resolved to commence immediate grassroots mobilisation, sensitisation and registration of supporters across the 10 wards of Atisbo in support of Makinde’s presidential aspiration and Adekanmbi’s governorship ambition.
However, the forum appealed to the governor to ensure adequate attention and inclusive political representation for Atisbo in the state’s governance structure.
It particularly drew attention to what it described as a political vacuum arising from the absence of elected candidates from the local government in the last local government election, urging Makinde to address the situation to strengthen the party’s grassroots presence.
The meeting was presided over by the former Chairman of the Oyo State Culture and Tourism Board, Hon. Debo Adejumobi Adebowale, alongside other prominent political leaders in the local government.
Prominent stakeholders present included the ATISBO LG Chairman, Alhaji Bashir Alade; Governor’s Special Adviser on Legislative Matters, Hon. Samuel Adejumobi; APM Chairman in ATISBO, Alhaji Fatai Adejare; Hon. Ademola Adejumobi; Alhaji Fatai Ojerisi; Iyafin Nike Arewa; Alhaji Malik Amusat; Hon. Sola Ogundiya; Alhaji Ismail Adedeji and other party leaders.