As part of preparations for the flag-off ceremony and campaign activities of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ibadan South-East Local Government Area of Oyo State, the Election Manager for the local government, Barr. Dr. Rotimi Okeowo, Esq., Ph.D., has commenced an extensive engagement tour of critical stakeholders and political leaders across the local government.
The engagement, according to Okeowo, is aimed at strengthening consultation, inclusiveness and coordination ahead of the forthcoming electoral activities. He noted that the views, ideas, experience and initiatives of senior politicians, party leaders and other opinion leaders remain important inputs into an effective campaign strategy.
Among the prominent personalities visited during the engagement were His Excellency, Ambassador Taofeek Arapaja; Alhaji Mufutau Adisa Gbayawu; Hon. Sakiru Fajimi; Hon. Sikiru Alli; Dr. Fola Akinosun; Chief Asatola Asanike; Pa Olaogun; Chief Bolaji Akinyemi (KOSIGIRI); Hon. Yaya Akinbile; Hon. Kunmi Adesina; Baba Akin, among others.
The stakeholders reportedly welcomed the initiative and expressed their willingness to contribute to the party’s activities and electoral preparations.
During the engagement, His Excellency, Ambassador Taofeek Arapaja, according to the report of the meeting, spoke about his decision to move from his former political platform to the APC.
Arapaja reportedly attributed his decision to what he described as concerns about the treatment of party members, democratic values, recognition and reward for loyalty under his former political platform.
He subsequently expressed his commitment to the APC and pledged to support the party’s candidates and programmes at the various levels.
The former Deputy Governor also stated that he had consistently opposed anti-party activities throughout his political career and reaffirmed what he described as his total loyalty to the APC and its candidates.
In a related development,
another prominent stakeholder, Chief Asatola Asanike, expressed satisfaction with the emergence of Senator Sarafadeen Abiodun Alli, Ph.D., as the party’s governorship candidate, according to the account of the engagement.
Asanike pledged to support the party’s campaign activities and electoral efforts, particularly in Ibadan South-East Local Government, where he is based, as well as across the Oyo South Senatorial District.
He urged party members and stakeholders to work together towards a coordinated campaign .
In another significant engagement, Dr. Fola Akinosun, a prominent political figure from Ibadan South-East, was visited at his Foreign Links School in Ile-Ife by Barr. Dr. Rotimi Okeowo, alongside the overall leader of Ibadan South-East Local Government, Alhaji Mufutau Adisa Gbayawu.
During the meeting, Akinosun reportedly expressed his disappointment over his inability to secure the party’s ticket. Following extensive discussions and deliberations, however, he pledged his support for the electoral efforts of Barr. Dr. Rotimi Okeowo and the party towards ensuring the actualisation of Senator Sarafadeen Alli ,Ph.D as the executive governor of Oyo state in the year 2027 . He declared total support for all the party candidates including the state Houses of Assembly and the Federal House of Representatives .
Akinosun further advised the Election Manager to establish effective coordination with other election managers within the Oyo South Senatorial District, noting his interest in supporting the party’s senatorial candidate, Hon. Remi Oseni.
He also expressed his stated commitment to supporting the APC’s presidential campaign and seeking strong support for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in the 2027 presidential election.
Hon. Kunmi Adesina, who recently joined the APC alongside his supporters, also pledged his support for the party’s candidates and electoral programmes.
Adesina, according to the report, expressed his determination to mobilise substantial support for the APC in Ibadan South-East Local Government during the 2027 elections and to work towards the success of the party’s candidates.
He specifically expressed support for the party’s governorship candidate, Senator Sarafadeen Abiodun Alli, Ph.D.
Also present during the interactive session were Hon. Adesina, former Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Ibadan South-East Local Government, popularly known as “World Best,” and Hon. Okiki Adebolu, among others.
Other notable political leaders and stakeholders in Ibadan South-East, including Alhaji Mojeed Olaoya; Hon. Akeem Olatunji Akogun; Hon. Sakiru Fajimi; Hon. Akin Alli; Pa Adeogun; Chief Abolade KOSIGIRI; Hon. Yaya Akinbile; Hon. Kola Amoo; and Baba Akin, also congratulated Barr. Dr. Rotimi Okeowo, Esq., Ph.D., on his appointment as Election Manager for Ibadan South-East Local Government.
The stakeholders reportedly pledged their cooperation and support for the election management team, while emphasising the need for unity, consultation and effective grassroots mobilisation ahead of the forthcoming elections.
The engagement tour is expected to continue with consultations involving other political leaders, traditional stakeholders, community influencers, party executives and grassroots actors within Ibadan South-East Local Government.
Barr. Dr. Okeowo said the objective of the exercise was to build a broad-based consultation framework capable of accommodating the perspectives of stakeholders while ensuring effective coordination of campaign activities at the ward and polling-unit levels.
