The Oyo State Chairman of the Allied People’s Movement (APM), Otunba Adegbenro Fagbemi, has welcomed party leaders and members from the 36 states of the federation and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) to the party’s Second National Convention holding today, Thursday, August 13, 2026, in Bauchi State.
Fagbemi described the convention as a significant milestone in the growth and development of the APM, saying it would further demonstrate the party’s readiness and preparedness for the 2027 general elections. He commended the national leadership of the party for what he described as purposeful leadership and efforts toward strengthening the APM.
The Oyo chairman particularly welcomed the presence of the Bauchi State Governor, H.E. Bala Mohammed, and the Oyo State Governor, H.E. Seyi Makinde, saying their arrival had signalled a new chapter for the party and represented a significant leap in Nigeria’s political landscape. He prayed for the success of the convention and the continued growth of the APM.
Fagbemi also stressed the importance of a strong opposition in sustaining democracy, noting that democracy should not be defined by the success of one political party but by the existence of credible alternatives, the freedom of citizens to choose and the confidence that their choices matter. According to him, “Democracy without opposition is not democracy, but a slow drift toward a one-party state.”
He said the Bauchi convention was therefore about more than the internal affairs of the APM, describing it as a gathering focused on the survival of a political system that keeps Nigeria open, competitive and accountable. He maintained that regardless of how popular any government may appear, the presence of credible opposition should not be viewed as a threat but as an essential element of democratic sustenance.
Fagbemi eulogised the leadership of the APM under the National Chairman, Alhaji Yusuf Maman Dantalle, as well as the National Working Committee (NWC) and National Executive Committee (NEC), for their contributions to the growth of the party. He wished all delegates and other participants a successful convention and safe return to their respective destinations.
