In preparation for the forthcoming April 27 local government election in Oyo state, Akeem Olatunji, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) chairmanship candidate for Oluyole, officially commenced his election campaign. The event witnessed a significant political shift as Princess Aderonke Rahmat Adedoja, the 2023 NNPP Reps Candidate, led hundreds of supporters into the PDP, setting the stage for a dynamic electoral landscape.
Key figures returning to the PDP fold included former Oluyole PDP Chairman Remi Adedapo and 2023 House of Reps Aspirant Mogaji Bola Akinyemi, reinforcing their support for Olatunji’s candidacy. The campaign kickoff, held at Olomi area on March 8, drew political heavyweights, lawmakers, commissioners, and enthusiastic party supporters.
Prominent PDP leaders present included Alhaji Babatunde Tijani, Hon Ezekiel Temitope Otope, Hon. Abideen Adetokunbo Adeaga, and Hon. Wole Akinleye, among others. Alhaji Wasiu Adeleke, the Oyo state PDP Secretary, emphasized the party’s readiness for the upcoming election, urging unity among leaders and stakeholders in Oluyole to secure victory on April 27.
During the event, Alhaji Mukaila Adegbola, the Oluyole local government PDP chairman, expressed confidence in Olatunji’s ability to implement Governor Seyi Makinde’s successful policies at the grassroots. Olatunji, flanked by his wife and vice chairmanship candidate, Niyi Akorede, expressed gratitude to Governor Makinde and pledged to run an open and inclusive government.
The Commissioner for Environment and Natural Resources, Hon. Abdulmojeed Mogbonjubola, emphasized the importance of achieving a landslide victory in the upcoming local government election. Olatunji assured that his administration would collaborate with local government legislature and state government for rapid development in Oluyole.
Some of the notable political bigwigs of the party in Oyo state who storm Olatunji’s campaign flag off are Alhaji Babatunde Tijani (Double T), Hon Ezekiel Temitope Otope, Director General Oyo State Liaison Office, Lagos and Abuja, Hon. Abideen Adetokunbo Adeaga (Director General, Oyo State Community Social Development Agency), Hon. Wole Akinleye (PDP Chairmanship Candidate Akinyele), Hon Oluwaseun Olufade (PDP Chairmanship Candidate Ibadan North), Hon Festus Alade (Makadof), Hon. James Olukunle, Oyo State PDP Deputy Chairman (represented the state chairman, Hon. Dayo Ogungbenro).
The Oyo state Secretary of PDP, Alhaji Wasiu Adeleke, who led members of the State Executive Council and other top echelons of the party to the event maintained that the ruling party remains the party to beat in the coming election being the most prepared ahead of the coming LG poll among all other political parties in the state.He called on all the leaders, elders and political stakeholders of the party in Oluyole to remain one united political family and eschew all forms of bickerings that could jeopardize the chance of the party come April 27.
He stressed the need for PDP in Oluyole to remain united and formidable at the grassroots to maintain its political dominance which he attributed to the success and accomplishments of the Seyi Makinde led government.
The Oluyole local government PDP chairman, Alhaji Mukaila Adegbola in his brief address expressed confidence in Olatunji’s ability and capabilities to replicate Governor Seyi Makinde’s laudable policies and programs at the grassroots and solicited for continued support for all PDP candidates, Alhaji Adegbola, who described Olatunji as a thorough grassroots mobilizer equally expressed confidence in his administration to take the local government to greater heights of infrastructural and economic development.
While reaffirming that Oluyole is now united as one big political family, he charged party members to return to their various wards and ensure they secure their polling units by adequately canvassing for votes in their areas.Members of the state executive council which include commissioners for Environment and Natural Resources, Hon. Abdulmojeed Mogbonjubola and Youth and Sports, Miss Wasilat Adegoke, as well as the Special Adviser on Media and Chief Press Secretary to Oyo state Governor, Pastor Sulaimon Olanrewaju, all personally attended the event to show support for Olatunji’s election campaign.The Commissioner for Environment and Natural Resources, Hon. Abdulmojeed Mogbonjubola stated in his brief remarks that the coming local government election is a political project that must be accomplished with landslide victory.
In his address, Olatunji, flanked by his wife, Mrs Balkis Olatunji and vice chairmanship candidate, Niyi Akorede, thanked governor Seyi Makinde for the opportunity given him to serve his people at the grassroots thereby, accelerating his political development.Olatunji equally solicited for more support for his election victory alongside the 10 PDP councilorship candidates, expressed gratitude to Otunba Seye Famojuro for his immense support, encouragement, and political mentorship assuring that he would not disappoint on the confidence and trust reposed in him as the Executive Chairman of Oluyole local government.In his gratitude to the PDP leaders and party faithful in Oluyole local government for their unwavering support throughout his tour of the 10 wards in the council area, Olatunji assured that he would emulate Governor Makinde to run an open door and inclusive government.While expressing gratitude to the incumbent Executive Chairman, Hon. Olaide Settle for his efforts in developing Oluyole, Olatunji eequally assured that his administration would form a strong synergy with the local government legislature and the state government through various Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) to ensure rapid development in Oluyole.Some members of the Oyo state House of Assembly present at the event include Honourables Waheed Akintayo (Oluyole state constituency), Olufunke-Olajide Comforter (Ibadan North II), Dawood Olalere (Ibadan North West state constituency) as well as popular Ibadan philantropist, Chief Benedict Akika.Other notable personalities present include PDP chairmanship candidate in Lagelu local government, Hon. Mudashiru Kamarudeen, Secretary to Oluyole LG, Hon. Abdulazeez Babalola, Chairman campaign council; Alhaji Ogunrin, Director-general of Olatunji campaign organization; Architect Salaam Azeez, Special Assistant to Oyo state governor on Oluyole federal constituency, Hon Olumide Akinlade, Alh Abdu-Mumini Alaba Oyeniyi, Hon Abayomi Olajide (Royal Umbrella), Bashorun Adeniji Saint Abbey and others.Also, the Babaloja and iyaloja General of Oluyole, traditional rulers, baales, christian and islamic leaders, religious bodies including the Christian Association of Nigeria, League of Imams, Nigeria Union of Teachers, Pensioners, Association of Traders and Artisans, Members of the GSM Advocates and Non Governmental Organizations political stakeholders in the local government were all in attendance.
