The governorship candidate of the Allied Peoples’ Movement, APM, for the 2027 Oyo State elections, Hon. Bimbo Adekanmbi, on Sunday led a thank-you visit to Otunba Oluseye Nathaniel Oladosu Opatoki at his Akobo residence in Ibadan.
The visit served to formally acknowledge Otunba Oluseye Opatoki’s statesmanlike conduct and unwavering support following his emergence as the consensus governorship candidate of the APM.
Party leaders, and stakeholders who attended described the gesture as a landmark display of political maturity and a testament to the growing coalition between the Peoples’ Democratic Party, PDP, and the Allied Peoples’ Movement APM in Oyo State ahead of 2027.
Recalled that the PDP in Oyo State, under the leadership of his excellency, the executive Governor of Oyo State, Engr. Oluseyi Abiodun Makinde FNSE, entered into a strategic coalition with the APM to present a unified front for the 2027 elections.
The arrangement culminated in a consensus process that produced Hon. Bimbo Adekanmbi as the joint governorship candidate. The move was aimed at consolidating progressive forces in the state and prioritizing continuity of people-centered governance beyond party labels.
In his speech, Hon. Bimbo Adekanmbi expressed profound gratitude to Otunba Oluseye Opatoki for his immediate and unconditional support after the consensus was announced.
“We are here today to express our heartfelt appreciation to Otunba Oluseye Opatoki for the unflinching support he has extended to my candidature as the consensus governorship candidate of the Allied Peoples’ Movement for the 2027 elections in Oyo State. Out of more than twenty aspirants, Otunba Opatoki was the first to congratulate me the moment the decision was made public. He pledged his full loyalty and promised to deploy every resource at his disposal to ensure our collective success.
“This act of magnanimity sends a clear message to the people of Oyo State that politics should be about service to the people, not the pursuit of personal ambition. With leaders like Otunba Oluseye Opatoki standing for the greater good, I am confident that the coalition between the PDP and APM will deliver a government that is inclusive, responsive, and focused on the prosperity of every citizen.’”
In his speech, host Otunba Oluseye Nathaniel Oladosu Opatoki, a leading People’s Democratic Party (PDP) governorship aspirant for 2027, explained the rationale behind his decision to back Bimbo Adekanmbi’s candidacy.
“I contested the PDP governorship because I believe in the future of Oyo State and I am convinced I have something meaningful to contribute. However, true leadership demands that we subordinate personal ambition to the collective interest of our people. When the process produced Hon. Bimbo Adekanmbi as the consensus candidate, I saw it as an opportunity to prioritize Oyo State over individual aspiration.
“We must move away from a politics of bitterness and division. My support for Hon. Adekanmbi is total and unconditional. I will work with every stakeholder, across party lines, to ensure that Oyo State gets a government that is competent, compassionate, and committed to sustainable development. I call on all political actors to embrace issue-based engagement and to allow the people of Oyo State to be the ultimate beneficiaries of our efforts.”
In his speech, Hon. Busari Olayemi, Executive Adviser to Governor Seyi Makinde on Intra-Party Affairs, commended Otunba Oluseye Opatoki’s rare display of political discipline.
“When stakeholders and party leaders, led by His Excellency Engr. Oluseyi Abiodun Makinde FNSE, announced Hon. Bimbo Adekanmbi as the consensus candidate, Otunba Opatoki accepted the decision with grace and pledged his support. That is the mark of a true democrat and a genuine lover of Oyo State. That shows he loves Governor Seyi Makinde wholeheartedly, and he is someone I can recommend to anybody” Olayemi said
“It is uncommon for an aspirant who has invested so much in a contest to accept the outcome of a consensus process and immediately work for the success of another candidate. Otunba Oluseye Opatoki has set a standard for political maturity that others should emulate. His conduct reassures us that the coalition between the PDP and APM is built on trust, shared values, and a common vision for Oyo State.’”
Dr. Moronkola Thomas, Director-General of the Oyo State Mobilisation Agency for Socio-Economic Development, OYMASED, described the PDP-APM coalition as a turning point for the state’s political future.
“In his speech, Moronkola Thomas observed; ‘The emergence of Hon. Bimbo Adekanmbi as the consensus candidate is a product of deliberate and strategic leadership by his excellency, Governor Seyi Makinde and other stakeholders. What Otunba Oluseye Opatoki has done is unprecedented in our political culture. His support validates the coalition and strengthens the confidence of the people in the process.
“History shows that Oyo State has evolved politically. From late Governor Abiola Ajimobi’s two-term tenure to Governor Makinde’s historic back-to-back victories, the people have demonstrated their desire for continuity and competence. Governor Seyi Makinde has now presented the people’s choice as a successor. By God’s grace, by this time next year, we will be preparing for the inauguration of Hon. Bimbo Adekanmbi as Governor of Oyo State.
“The values of leadership, vision, and service that the people saw in Governor Makinde are also evident in Hon. Adekanmbi. With the support of leaders like Otunba Oluseye Opatoki, this coalition will produce a government that surpasses expectations.”
The presence of the leaders underscored the seriousness of the party and its potential to reshape the dynamics of the 2027 governorship race. Speakers reiterated that the focus must remain on issues, policy, and the welfare of the people of Oyo State.
Among those present at the thank-you visit were Professor Mudasiru of LAUTECH; Alhaji Siaka Raji, popularly known as Siaka Adedibu; the Adedibu Ndigbo of Oyo State, Chief Emeka Uzobueze; Hon. Adedeji Oladipo, former Ibadan North Youth Leader; Engr. Olasunkanmi Emmanuel, Coordinator of the Opatoki Integrity Foundation; Mr. Iyiola Olaleye, Foundation member; Mr. Akinbodun, Foundation member; and Hon. Adesile Abraham, Foundation member.
The stakeholders’ thanked Otunba Oluseye Opatoki for his hospitality and reaffirmed their commitment to sustaining the spirit of unity, consultation, and purposeful leadership that the coalition represents.
