2027: Yari 774 Initiative Mobilises 20,000 Members For Alli, Adedeji, Oyo APC Candidates

The Yari 774 Initiative For Asiwaju, on Wednesday, reaffirmed its commitment to the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Oyo State, declaring support for the party’s governorship candidate, Senator Sarafadeen Alli, his running mate, Barrister Soji Adedeji, and other candidates ahead of the 2027 general elections.

The movement, which describes itself as a grassroots mobilisation platform inspired by Senator Abdulaziz Yari, made its position known during a solidarity gathering at the Party’s Campaign Office in Ibadan, which was attended by its state and local government coordinators, members and other APC stakeholders.

At the gathering, the group highlighted its growing organisational structure across the 33 local government areas and 351 wards of Oyo State, saying it was prepared to take its mobilisation activities to communities and polling units across the state.

The Yari 774 Initiative maintained that its activities would continue to focus on grassroots mobilisation and coordination of its members in support of the APC’s candidates across the state.

Speaking at the event, the Oyo State Coordinator of the movement, Hon. Oladunni Olubukola, said the initiative was committed to building grassroots support through sustained engagement, ward meetings and mobilisation of residents.

She explained that members were not waiting for financial inducements from political candidates before carrying out their activities, stressing that the movement had individuals supporting its operations.

“We are working tirelessly to mobilise the people from the grassroots. We are encouraging our people to engage in ward meetings. This is a special movement.

“We have those people financing us and are not waiting for candidates to give us money. But we are moving with our leaders who know us. And we know that victory is certain for all our candidates,” Olubukola said.

Also speaking, the Oyo Central Senatorial District Coordinator, Alhaji (Mogaji) Bola Akinyemi, described the gathering as an opportunity to demonstrate the movement’s solidarity with the APC candidates, particularly Senator Alli and his running mate.

He maintained that the initiative had established structures across the state and was committed to supporting APC candidates at every level of the political process.

“We are here to show our solidarity to the candidates of our party and his running mate — Barrister Sarafadeen Alli and Soji Adedeji Adesoji. This movement spreads across the entire nooks and crannies of Oyo State, and we are solidly behind the candidatures of our party from top to bottom,” he stated.

Giving an account of the movement’s organisational strength, Akinyemi disclosed that it had over 7,000 executive members spread across the state, comprising 20 executives at the state level, 19 in each of the 33 local government areas and 19 in each of the 351 wards.

He further claimed that the initiative had attracted more than 20,000 members across Oyo State, describing its grassroots structure as a major component of its mobilisation strategy.

According to him, representatives from different parts of the state, including Kisi, Igbeti, Saki, Oyo East, Oyo West and Ogbomoso, as well as the 11 local government areas in Oyo Central Senatorial District, were represented at the gathering.

Akinyemi explained that the Yari 774 Initiative was established as a nationwide political mobilisation platform to coordinate grassroots support for APC candidates across the country.

He added that the movement had members working in different states of the federation to mobilise support for the party’s candidates.

Responding, the APC deputy governorship candidate, Barrister Soji Adedeji, expressed appreciation to the movement for identifying with the party’s candidates, describing grassroots participation and collective commitment as important aspects of political engagement.

He urged members to sustain their mobilisation efforts and strengthen their collaboration with other party stakeholders ahead of the 2027 elections.

“I appreciate this movement for the support you are giving us. We know that you love us because what you are doing is helping us. We will all reap the fruits of our labour by the grace of God. Let us put in more efforts.

“We will not disappoint you, but let us work effectively together,” Adedeji said.