It was a colourful and well-attended political gathering at the Ojoo Roundabout in Akinyele Local Government Area on Wednesday, October 7, as the Allied Peoples’ Movement (APM) formally flagged off the campaign of its Oyo state house of assembly candidate for Akinyele Constituency II, Hon. Olalere Solomon Ere.
The campaign flag-off, which attracted APM leaders, political stakeholders, party faithful, residents, community members and other members of the public, provided a major platform for the party and its candidate to present their messages ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The event, which was marked by speeches, political mobilisation, music and entertainment, was anchored by the APM Alliance Public Relations Officer, Hon. Michael Ogunsina, whose energetic and engaging presentation kept the gathering lively throughout the programme.
The large crowd at the venue was described by party leaders and supporters as an indication of the level of enthusiasm surrounding Ere’s candidacy in Akinyele Constituency II. The gathering also drew residents and electorate who were not necessarily identified as APM members and who came to witness the campaign flag-off.
The campaign was conducted without reported confrontation, with organisers highlighting the orderly and peaceful nature of the gathering.
Addressing the gathering, the Oyo State Chairman of the Allied Peoples’ Movement, Hon. Fagbemi Adegbenro, expressed appreciation to the people of Akinyele for what he described as their massive support and turnout.
Adegbenro said the gathering demonstrated the importance of unity within the political family, stressing that “there is strength in unity.”
The APM chairman described Hon. Olalere Solomon Ere as humble and brilliant and expressed confidence that he would adequately represent the interests of the people of Akinyele Constituency II if elected into the Oyo State House of Assembly.
He urged voters to make their choice through the ballot box during the forthcoming election.
Adegbenro also called on the electorate to support the APM’s candidates across the various elective positions, including its Oyo governorship candidate, Hon. Abimbola Adekanmbi, as well as the party’s senatorial, House of Representatives and State House of Assembly candidates.
Speaking at the event, the APM candidate for Akinyele Constituency II, Hon. Olalere Solomon Ere, expressed appreciation to the party leadership, members, supporters, residents and the general public for attending the campaign flag-off.
Ere said his aspiration to represent Akinyele Constituency II in the Oyo State House of Assembly was driven by his desire to provide what he described as qualitative representation for the people.
He maintained that civic responsibility and community service had been part of his activities even before seeking elective office, citing various interventions he said he had undertaken in the community without holding political office.
According to him, positively impacting people’s lives is part of his personal commitment.
Ere said election into the House of Assembly would provide him with a broader platform to pursue initiatives capable of bringing the dividends of democracy closer to the people of Akinyele Constituency II.
He pledged to prioritise the needs of the constituency, represent the people effectively and make their interests central to his legislative responsibilities if elected.
“I want to represent the people and ensure that the needs of the constituency receive the attention they deserve,” he said in substance, while urging residents and eligible voters to participate actively in the election.
Ere also appealed to the electorate to turn out on election day and support the APM’s candidates across the various levels of government.
One of the symbolic moments of the campaign flag-off was the presentation of the APM party flag to Hon. Olalere Solomon Ere by the Oyo State Chairman, Hon. Fagbemi Adegbenro.
The presentation served as a formal demonstration of the party’s backing for Ere’s candidacy and publicly identified him as the APM standard-bearer for Akinyele Constituency II.
The symbolic handover was met with cheers from party supporters and members of the gathering.
Also speaking at the event, Hon. Adebayo Babajide Gabriel, member of the Oyo State House of Assembly representing Ibadan North Constituency II and APM candidate for the constituency, urged the people of Akinyele to support the party’s candidates in the forthcoming election.
Babajide Gabriel called on the electorate to support Hon. Abimbola Adekanmbi for governor, as well as APM candidates contesting senatorial, Federal House of Representatives and State House of Assembly seats.
He particularly drew attention to the two APM candidates contesting the Akinyele State Constituencies, urging voters to support Hon. Olalere Solomon Ere in Akinyele Constituency II and Hon. Lekan Abiola in Akinyele Constituency I.
Babajide Gabriel was joined on stage by his fellow APM assembly candidate for Ibadan South-West Constituency II, Hon. Olakunle Akinsete, who also addressed the gathering.
The campaign flag-off attracted a cross-section of APM political leaders, elected officials, candidates, local government officials, party executives and supporters.
Among those present were the Oyo State APM Vice Chairman, Alhaji Wasiu Adeleke; Akinyele Local Government Chairman; APM Federal House of Representatives candidate for Lagelu/Akinyele Federal Constituency, Hon. Toheeb Adegoke, popularly known as ADLAT; Hon. Akinwole Akinleye; Executive Chairman of Ibadan North Local Government, Hon. Oluwaseun Olufade; and other local government chairmen.
Also in attendance were the Chairman of the Oyo State Agency for Youth Development, Hon. Adebowale Falana; Agbaakin Olorunda Abaa, Chief Benedict Akika; Hon. Adebayo Babajide Gabriel; Hon. Olakunle Akinsete; councillors and supervisory councillors in Akinyele Local Government; Special Assistants; party leaders, executives, members, friends and families alongside residents and members of the general public.
The breadth of attendance gave the event a strong party mobilisation character, bringing together stakeholders from different levels of the APM structure.
Beyond the political speeches and mobilisation, the campaign flag-off also had a strong entertainment component.
Popular Fuji musician Alhaji Taye Currency, who was the musician of the day, thrilled the crowd with his performance, turning the political gathering into a lively celebration.
The Oldschool Brothers, a popular TikTok dance group, also entertained the audience with a live performance that added further colour to the event.
The combination of political speeches, music and entertainment kept the crowd engaged and contributed to the festive atmosphere at the Ojoo Roundabout.
The campaign flag-off effectively marked the beginning of Ere’s public campaign for the Akinyele Constituency II seat under the APM banner.
While the large turnout was interpreted by party leaders and supporters as a demonstration of enthusiasm for Ere’s candidacy.
For Ere and the APM, however, the Ojoo gathering provided an opportunity to formally unveil the candidate, rally party structures, engage residents and articulate the campaign’s central message of representation and service.
With party leaders, candidates, political stakeholders and residents converging at the venue, the flag-off further placed Akinyele Constituency II in focus as political activities intensify ahead of the 2027 elections.
