Oyo State leading political figure, Oloye Saheed Oladele, and his running mate, Mrs Damola Jaiye, have joined the African Action Congress (AAC) following Oladele’s resignation from the Social Democratic Party (SDP).

The development was announced in a statement issued by the Saheed Oladele Media Office on Wednesday, September 23, 2026, at Oladele’s campaign office in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital.

According to his media office, Oloye Oladele, who had earlier formally resigned from the SDP on Wednesday, September 16, said his decision to join the AAC immediately after his SDP resignation was informed by his determination to rescue the people of Oyo State from what they described as the shackles of modern slavery, abject poverty, educational retrogression, poor development at the local government level, and unnecessary mortgaging of the future of Oyo State.

According to the office, Oladele’s political vision aligns with the people-centred principles championed by Omoyele Sowore, the AAC’s presidential candidate for the 2027 general election. Sowore emerged as the party’s presidential candidate at its May 2026 primary.

Explaining the decision, the Oladele Media Office said their principal was attracted to the AAC because of what they described as the party’s concern for the welfare of Nigerians, its strong and practical adherence to the Take It Back mantra, and its advocacy for good governance.

The statement said: “The idea of joining the African Action Congress was borne out of his love for good governance and the human rights culture championed by the leader of the AAC, Comrade Omoyele Sowore.”

Oladele’s media office further described the AAC as a party with no factions and court cases, unlike virtually every other political party, thereby making the AAC an ideal platform for serious candidates who truly want to contest and win elections.

The statement called on the people of Oyo State to remain confident in the political direction Oladele and his team have chosen, saying the time has come for greater youth participation and leadership in the state.

It further urged their supporters and residents of Oyo State to join the AAC en-masse, especially as it is led and peopled by active and vibrant youths, who have been fighting for the rights of Nigerians and keeping the country’s leaders on their toes.

The announcement marks another development in the evolving political alignments ahead of the 2027 general elections in Oyo State.