A political shift appears to be gathering momentum in Oyo State as the Alleluyah Reformed Movement formally aligned with the All Progressives Congress (APC), declaring full backing for President Bola Tinubu’s second-term bid in 2027.
The declaration came during an Ibadanland Stakeholders’ Summit held in Ibadan, where leaders of the movement announced that over 1,000 members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) had defected to the APC. The group described the development as part of a broader realignment across the state’s political landscape.
Speaking on behalf of the movement, its Ibadanland Chairman, Dauda Lawal—represented by Yahya Akingbile—said the organisation emerged in August 2025 following prolonged internal crises within the PDP. He cited indiscipline, unresolved conflicts, and what he termed a breakdown of party structure as reasons behind their exit.
According to him, the movement has since built an extensive grassroots network spanning all 11 local government areas in Ibadanland and extending across the 33 LGAs in Oyo State. He added that the group’s decision to support Tinubu was influenced by ongoing federal reforms and governance policies which, in their view, are strengthening institutional frameworks and economic stability.
Lawal further dismissed the necessity for political coalitions ahead of the 2027 elections, arguing that the APC now possesses the internal capacity to secure victory independently in Oyo State.
Also addressing stakeholders at the summit, the Secretary of the movement, Saleem Jelili, confirmed that more than 1,000 defectors were physically present at the event, with many others unable to attend due to logistical constraints. He described the turnout as a strong indicator of growing political realignment in the region.
“This is only a fraction of those aligning with us. The numbers continue to grow daily across different local governments,” he noted.
The convener of the movement, former Senate Chief Whip Hosea Agboola—popularly known as “Alleluyah”—projected that the group could mobilise between four and five million votes for President Tinubu in the next presidential election. He insisted that the large turnout at the summit reflects a genuine shift in allegiance, countering claims that the PDP has not suffered significant defections.
Agboola, a former PDP senator representing Oyo State in the National Assembly between 2011 and 2015, defected to the APC in October 2025 after years of political alignment with the opposition party. He also previously served as Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs under former governors Rashidi Ladoja and the late Adebayo Alao-Akala, and later chaired the Advisory Council to Governor Seyi Makinde between 2019 and 2023.
He maintained that the Alleluyah Reformed Movement is not merely joining the APC but bringing with it a structured political base capable of influencing electoral outcomes at both state and national levels.
The summit drew a wide range of participants, including party stakeholders, traditional figures, artisans, and grassroots mobilisers, many of whom pledged loyalty to the APC and committed to strengthening support for Tinubu ahead of the 2027 general elections.
9News Nigeria reports that the development signals a potential shift in Oyo State’s political dynamics as preparations gradually intensify ahead of the next electoral cycle.
