A massive crowd of All Progressives Congress (APC) youths and other supporters, on Wednesday welcomed the party’s deputy governorship candidate in Oyo State, Adesoji Adedeji, and his entourage to Saki, Ogbomoso, Iseyin and Oyo.
While he was in Ogbomoso and Saki on Wednesday, his train moved to Iseyin and Oyo yesterday with crowds of APC youths and supporters thronging venues of the engagements.
An elated Adedeji took the opportunity to outline key areas the APC administration would prioritise if elected in 2027.
The gatherings, held at Saki City Hall and Soun Ogunlola Town Hall, Ogbomoso, on Wednesday, was organised under the theme: ‘Building APC Youths for Electoral Success in Oyo State,’ and formed part of the party’s ongoing grassroots mobilisation and engagement ahead of the 2027 general election.
The venues were enlivened by political and solidarity songs as APC members and stakeholders from Saki and Ogbomoso converged to receive Adedeji and discuss strategies for strengthening the party’s grassroots structures, particularly through increased youth participation. The experience was the same at the MKO Events Centre in Iseyin and Labamba Hotel, Oyo yesterday.
Addressing the crowds at the venues, Adedeji thanked the party leaders, candidates and members for their support, urging APC youths to take a more active role in grassroots mobilisation ahead of the 2027 elections.
He stressed the need for the party to strengthen its presence beyond Ibadan, noting that Ogbomoso, Oyo, Ibarapa and Oke-Ogun are important components of the state, whose contributions should be reflected in the party’s political and development strategies.
Adedeji likened the strength of the party to a forest, stressing that ‘a single tree cannot make a forest,’ and called for collective efforts among party members across the various zones.
He commended the youth for their commitment and resilience, stressing that they are the cornerstone of the APC.
He added that the party prioritised youths in the planning and execution of party manifesto and other activities.
The deputy governorship candidate highlighted some of the policy priorities which the Alli-Soji ticket would pursue if elected, with particular emphasis on functional local government system, workers’ welfare, education and youth development.
According to him, education and youth development would receive priority attention because of their importance to human capital development and the overall progress of the state.
He promised that the APC administration would intensify efforts to attract investors to Oyo State, with the aim of expanding economic activities, creating opportunities and improving the welfare of residents.
On workers’ welfare, Adedeji said the proposed administration would give attention to payment of salaries, allowances, gratuities and pensions, stressing that the welfare of workers is an important component of Oyo AHEAD agenda.
His emphasis on education, investment and workers’ welfare adds to previous public statements from the APC ticket outlining priorities, including infrastructure, health care and agriculture.
Adedeji urged the youth to take the Oyo AHEAD agenda to the grassroots across the state to enable people key into it.
Party leaders addressed the gatherings, including the APC candidate for Ogbomoso North, Ogbomoso South and Oriire Federal Constituency, Olamijuwonlo Alao-Akala, who commended the party’s leadership and youths for their continued commitment.
Alao-Akala urged members to remain united and sustain their mobilisation efforts towards the forthcoming elections.
The APC Youth Leader, Remi Adepoju, assured the gathering that the youth wing was prepared to intensify its mobilisation activities, while appealing to party leaders to continue supporting young members.
Other speakers at the programme expressed support for the Alli-Soji ticket and called for greater mobilisation across the various communities in the state.
In Ogbomoso, a minute silence was observed in honour of the late former Oyo State governor, Otunba Adebayo Alao-Akala, followed by special prayers.
Among those present were Odedunmi Bunmi Olubukunmi, Glory Olalekan, Sayo Ifatoki, Alhaji Wasiu Olukan and Ajagbe Ibrahim, as well as other APC leaders, women leaders and members of the City Boys Movement.
At Saki, the APC deputy governorship candidate visited the Olere of Saki, Oba Khalid Olabisi.
The zonal engagements underscore APC’s continuing effort to strengthen its grassroots structures and deepen youth participation ahead of the 2027 elections.