Governor Makinde Holds Emergency Meetings To Retain APM Loyalists As Chief Of Staff, Ex-Deputy Governor, Others Abandon Oyo Govt, Defect To APC
Governor Makinde Holds Emergency Meetings To Retain APM Loyalists As Chief Of Staff, Ex-Deputy Governor, Others Abandon Oyo Govt, Defect To APC
Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, has reportedly begun holding meetings with members of his cabinet and key political stakeholders in the Allied People’s Movement (APM) in an effort to address the growing wave of defections from the party in the state.
The meetings followed the departure of several prominent political figures from the governor’s camp, including serving government officials, party leaders and political stakeholders who have resigned from their positions or defected to the All Progressives Congress (APC).
The latest defections involve prominent politicians from Ogbomoso Zone, where several political figures and local government representatives have reportedly joined the APC.
Among those who recently defected are the Chief of Staff to the governor, Hon. Segun Ogunwuyi; Alhaji Rasak Gbadegesin, popularly known as Agbeti; Hon. Timothy Oyeniyi; Hon. Alabi Olateju; Hon. Isaiah Adegbite; Hon. Peter Oyetunji; and Hon. Jimoh Sikiru, the APM chairman in Ogbomoso North.
Other political figures and local government representatives from Ogbomoso North, Ogbomoso South, Surulere and Ogo-Oluwa are also reported to have left the party.
The latest departures come after a series of resignations by government officials and political appointees.
The Commissioner for Budget and Economic Planning, Ayobami Oluwaseun Ojo, and the ministry’s Special Adviser, Simeon Adegbola Oyeleke, also resigned from their positions, effective November 2.
While Ojo did not publicly state the reason for his resignation, Oyeleke said he was uncomfortable with the working environment and that it had become difficult to represent his people’s aspirations while serving in government.
Sunday Olugbenga Falana also resigned from the Oyo State Independent Electoral Commission (OYSIEC). He thanked the governor for the opportunity to serve but did not publicly disclose the reason for his departure.
The Director-General of the Due Process Office, Tara Adefope, also resigned from the administration.
Other prominent political figures who have left Makinde’s camp include the Chairman of the Governor’s Advisory Council, Hosea Agboola, popularly known as Alleluyah; former Deputy Governor and Ambassador, Taofeek Arapaja; and Alhaji Bisi Olopoeniyan.
Agboola and Arapaja have since joined the APC.
The governor has also lost some political associates, including his former Political Adviser, Chief Babatunde Oduyoye, and former Special Adviser on Security, Fatai Owoseni. Owoseni officially resigned from his position on May 7, 2026.
Amid the developments, Makinde has reportedly begun reaching out to members of his cabinet and remaining political loyalists to discuss the defections and address concerns among party stakeholders.
Sources familiar with the meetings said discussions involving the governor, aggrieved party leaders and other political associates have been taking place at his residences in Ikolaba and Kolapo Ishola Estate in Ibadan.
According to one of the sources, the governor expressed concern about the growing defections and sought suggestions on measures to prevent further departures.
“The governor was visibly worried when those in attendance also said the last had not been heard of such defections. He wanted to know what could be done to curtail the mass defection. It was also an opportunity for those at the meeting to speak their minds on the cause of the crisis bedevilling the party, which was traced to the unilateral decision of the governor to pick Bimbo Adekanmbi as the party’s governorship candidate in the 2027 election,” the source said.
The source added that some participants also raised concerns about policies of the administration, which they said had attracted negative publicity.
The selection of Bimbo Adekanmbi as the party’s governorship candidate for the 2027 election was reportedly identified by some aggrieved stakeholders as one of the issues contributing to the disagreements within the party.
The latest meeting, which reportedly lasted until the early hours of Thursday, ended without an agreed strategy to address the defections, according to sources familiar with the discussions.
The developments come as political parties and stakeholders in Oyo State begin preparations for the 2027 governorship election and also ahead of the upcoming Presidential elections.
When SaharaReporters contacted Sulaimon Olanrewaju, Chief Press Secretary to Governor Makinde, he said he would respond to the allegations but had yet to do so as of the time this report was filed, despite several hours having passed since the enquiry was made. He also failed to respond to a reminder sent by SaharaReporters before publication.
