The Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Matters in Oyo State has declared that the Ibarapa region will not align with the All Progressives Congress (APC) during the 2027 general elections. Speaking as a leading figure of the Allied Peoples Movement (APM) in the area, the Commissioner issued the warning to a political figure identified as Alli.
The assertion comes as political factions in Oyo State begin early positioning for the next electoral cycle, with the APM signalling its intention to maintain a stronghold in the Ibarapa axis. The Commissioner’s statement serves as a direct challenge to the APC’s efforts to expand its political footprint across the state’s various senatorial and local government districts.
The declaration was made during political discussions regarding the future direction of the Ibarapa region, where the Commissioner emphasised that the local political machinery would remain independent of the APC’s influence.
The strategic importance of Ibarapa
The Ibarapa region holds significant weight in Oyo State politics, particularly concerning the control of local government structures and traditional leadership arrangements. As the Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Matters, the official occupies a strategic position that oversees the very administrative units essential for grassroots political mobilisation.
By asserting that the region will not fold into the APC, the APM chieftain is highlighting a growing resistance to the political consolidation efforts of the major parties. The APM has positioned itself as a regionalist force, focusing on the specific interests of the Ibarapa electorate, which often differs from the broader state-wide political narratives dominated by the PDP and APC.
The Commissioner’s dual role as a state executive member and a party leader in the APM underscores the complex landscape of political allegiances in Oyo State. This intersection of government administration and party leadership often becomes a focal point for tension when state officials maintain strong ties to opposition or third-party movements.
Political analysts suggest that the refusal of the APM to align with the APC in 2027 could lead to a highly contested election in the Ibarapa local government areas. If the APM successfully retains its base, it may prevent the APC from achieving the dominance required to secure a clean sweep of the state’s legislative and local seats.
As of the time of this report, the APC has not issued a formal response to the Commissioner’s declaration. However, the political atmosphere in the region is expected to intensify as party operatives from both sides begin more aggressive recruitment and engagement within the Ibarapa communities.
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