APGA Southwest holds Strategic Meeting in Ibadan, Reviews Membership Registration, Plans Regional Summit

 **APGA SOUTHWEST HOLDS STRATEGIC MEETING IN IBADAN, REVIEWS MEMBERSHIP REGISTRATION, PLANS REGIONAL SUMMIT**

Leaders of the Southwest Zone of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) on Wednesday, 8th April, 2026 held an expanded meeting with state chairmen in Ibadan, Oyo State, to review the progress of the party’s membership registration exercise, discuss the composition of electoral panels across the region, and deliberate on the proposed APGA Southwest Summit aimed at strengthening the party’s structure.

The meeting, held at the APGA Southwest Zonal Secretariat, Akunleyan Shopping Complex, opposite Watershed, Old Ife Road, Ibadan, brought together the Southwest Zonal Chairman, Chief Owolabi Suraj; Oyo State Chairman, Mr. Adeniyi Gbenga; Ondo State Chairman, Pastor Olatunde Dare; Ekiti State Chairman, Mr. Olusola Isola; Ogun State Chairman, Hon. Olayinka Ijale and Osun State Chairman, Mr. Wole Adedoyin. The Lagos State Chairman, Mr. ThankGod Ibeh, was represented at the meeting by Comrade Ololade John.

The meeting reviewed the progress made by various state chapters on the ongoing electronic membership registration exercise being coordinated by the party’s national leadership. Reports presented by the states indicated that the exercise was progressing steadily, with Oyo, Ondo, Ekiti, Osun, Lagos and Ogun chapters making significant efforts to complete the first phase of the registration process.

While Oyo State reported full compliance from members and assured the house that the first phase of the membership register would soon be submitted to the National Secretariat, Ondo State confirmed that its first phase had already been compiled, with additional work continuing at the state level.

The Ekiti State chapter also reported steady progress and presented some completed forms for onward submission, while the Osun State chapter informed the meeting that work on the membership register was ongoing and that the first phase would be submitted shortly.

The Lagos State chapter explained that it received the updated membership forms late from the national headquarters but assured the meeting that efforts were underway to complete the exercise. During the meeting, the representative placed the Lagos State Chairman on a conference call to reaffirm the chapter’s commitment to completing the registration process using the updated forms.

After deliberations, the meeting agreed that the Southwest Zonal Chairman, Chief Owolabi Suraj, would coordinate the collection of completed membership forms from the states and forward them collectively to the National Secretariat. It was also agreed that the transportation cost for forwarding the documents would be jointly borne by the participating chapters.

The meeting also discussed the most appropriate method of transmitting the membership register to the national headquarters. While some members suggested the use of electronic transmission through PDF compilation, the house resolved to adopt courier delivery following consultation with the party’s National Chairman, Barr. Sylvester Ezeokenwa, who advised that physical submission would ensure clarity of photographs and records.

On electoral preparations, the meeting was informed that each Southwest state chapter is required to submit ten nominees for electoral panel duties ahead of party primaries. The nominations will consist of a five-member National Assembly Electoral Panel and a five-member Governorship and State House of Assembly Electoral Panel, with each panel required to include at least one woman and a legal practitioner.

The meeting further deliberated on the proposed APGA Southwest Summit, which is designed to deepen the party’s political engagement in the region and strengthen its organizational structures. Two tentative dates—May 20 and May 22—were proposed for the summit, subject to the final approval and convenience of the National Chairman.

To ensure effective planning of the summit, the meeting approved the formation of five committees: Programme Committee, Mobilization and Logistics Committee, Finance Committee, Publicity and Media Committee, and Strategic Committee. Each state chapter is expected to nominate five representatives who will serve on the committees to be constituted by the zonal leadership.

The Southwest leadership reaffirmed its commitment to strengthening the structures of APGA across the region and called on all state chapters to intensify grassroots mobilization as the party continues its drive toward expanding its influence in the Southwest.

Report of the APGA Southwest Expanded Meeting with State Chairmen held on Wednesday, April 8, 2026

**REPORT OF THE APGA SOUTHWEST EXPANDED MEETING WITH STATE CHAIRMEN HELD ON WEDNESDAY, APRIL 8, 2026**

VENUE: APGA Southwest Zonal Secretariat, Akunleyan Shopping Complex, Opposite Watershed, Old Ife Road, Ibadan

TIME: 11:30 AM – 2:00 PM

1. INTRODUCTION

The expanded meeting of the Southwest leadership of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) with State Chairmen across the Southwest geopolitical zone was held on Wednesday, April 8, 2026, at the APGA Southwest Zonal Secretariat, Ibadan.

The meeting was convened by the Southwest Zonal Chairman, Chief Owolabi Suraj, to deliberate on key organisational matters affecting the party in the region, particularly the ongoing electronic membership registration exercise, the composition of electoral panels for party primaries, and the proposed APGA Southwest Summit.

The meeting commenced at 11:30 AM following the motion for commencement moved by the Ondo State Chairman, Pastor Olatunde Dare, and seconded by the Oyo State Chairman, Mr.  Gbenga Adeniyi Christopher.

2. ATTENDANCE

The following leaders were present at the meeting:

1. Chief Owolabi Suraj – Southwest Zonal Chairman

2. Mr. Gbenga Adeniyi Christopher – Oyo State Chairman

3. Pastor Olatunde Dare – Ondo State Chairman

4. Comrade Ololade Johnson – Representative of Lagos State Chairman

        Mr. ThankGod Ibeh  

        – Lagos State    

        Chairman

        (represented)

5. Mr. Olusola Isola – Ekiti State Chairman

6. Mr. Wole Adedoyin – Osun State Chairman 

7. Hon. Olayinka Ijale

3. AGENDA

The following agenda guided deliberations at the meeting:

1.      Review of the ongoing Online/Electronic Membership Registration

2.      Composition of Electoral Panels for Party Primaries

3.      Planning of the APGA Southwest Summit

4.      Matters Arising

5.      Any Other Business

4. PROCEEDINGS

4.1 OPENING REMARKS

In his opening remarks, the Southwest Chairman, Chief Owolabi Suraj, welcomed all the state chairmen and representatives to the meeting. He recalled that the last interaction among the chairmen took place in Abuja during the APGA Council of Chairmen meeting held the previous month.

He expressed satisfaction at the presence of representatives from all Southwest states and emphasized the importance of strengthening party structures in the region through coordinated administrative efforts.

5. MATTERS ARISING

5.1 ELECTRONIC MEMBERSHIP REGISTER

The meeting reviewed the progress made by each state chapter regarding the ongoing electronic membership registration exercise.

OYO STATE

The Oyo State Chairman reported that the membership registration exercise is ongoing and members have shown strong compliance. He confirmed that the first phase of the completed forms would soon be submitted to the National Secretariat as directed by the Southwest Chairman.

ONDO STATE

The Ondo State Chairman reported that the first phase of the membership register had already been compiled. He presented some completed forms during the meeting and assured members that further work would continue upon his return to the state.

OGUN STATE

The Ogun State representative stated that work on the membership register is progressing. Members who collected forms are expected to return them during their forthcoming State Executive Committee meeting scheduled for Wednesday, after which the forms will be forwarded appropriately.

LAGOS STATE

The Lagos State Chapter was represented by Comrade Ololade Johnson, who apologized on behalf of the State Chairman, Mr. ThankGod Ibeh, for his unavoidable absence.

He explained that the second batch of membership forms reached the chapter late, as they had already begun compiling the first batch when the National Headquarters introduced a new format. During the meeting, the Lagos representative placed his chairman on a conference call, during which the chairman assured the house that the Lagos Chapter would intensify efforts to complete the updated forms.

The Southwest Chairman explained that he had personally facilitated the collection and delivery of the forms from Abuja to Ibadan due to the absence of the Lagos Chairman during the Council of Chairmen meeting. He therefore urged the Lagos Chapter to expedite action on the updated membership forms.

OSUN STATE

The Osun State Chairman, Mr. Wole Adedoyin, informed the house that the membership registration exercise is ongoing in the state and that the completed forms for the first phase would be submitted by Friday.

EKITI STATE 

The Ekiti State Chairman, Mr. Olusola Isola, also reported steady progress in the exercise. He presented some completed forms during the meeting which were ready for submission to the National Headquarters.

5.2 MODE OF SUBMISSION OF MEMBERSHIP FORMS

The meeting discussed different methods of transmitting the completed membership forms to the National Headquarters.

The Lagos representative proposed the adoption of modern technology by compiling the documents electronically in PDF format, explaining that this method had been successfully used by the Lagos Chapter.

However, other states including Ondo, Osun, and Oyo supported the use of courier services for the physical submission of the forms.

To clarify the official position, the Southwest Chairman placed a phone call to the National Chairman of APGA, Barr. Sylvester Ezeokenwa, during the meeting. The National Chairman advised that the forms should be sent through courier services because the party had experienced difficulties extracting photographs from PDF submissions.

5.3 COLLECTION OF MEMBERSHIP FORMS

The meeting agreed that the Southwest Zonal Chairman, Chief Owolabi Suraj, would coordinate the collection of completed membership forms from the various state chapters and forward them collectively to the National Secretariat.

It was also agreed that the transportation costs for the courier services would be jointly shared by the state chapters submitting their forms.

5.4 COMPOSITION OF ELECTORAL PANELS

The Southwest Chairman informed the meeting that the National Chairman had directed each state chapter to submit ten (10) nominees for electoral panel duties.

The nominations will be divided as follows:

1.      Five (5) members for the National Assembly Electoral Panel (must include a woman and a lawyer).

2.      Five (5) members for the Governorship and State House of Assembly Electoral Panel (must include a woman and a lawyer).

State chairmen were instructed to submit the two lists privately via WhatsApp to the Southwest Chairman on or before Friday, April 10, 2016.

6. APGA SOUTHWEST SUMMIT

The meeting also deliberated extensively on the proposed APGA Southwest Summit, focusing on its objectives, mission, and vision for strengthening the party’s presence in the region.

PROPOSED DATES

Two dates were proposed for the consideration of the National Chairman:

May 20, 2016

May 22, 2016

The final date would be selected based on the convenience of the National Chairman.

COMMITTEES FORMED

Five committees were proposed to coordinate the summit:

1.      Programme Committee

2.      Mobilization and Logistics Committee

3.      Finance Committee

4.      Publicity and Media Committee

5.      Strategic Committee

Each state chapter is expected to nominate five representatives who will serve on the committees to be constituted by the zonal leadership.

The Southwest Chairman assured the meeting that a detailed action plan outlining the responsibilities of each committee would be circulated soon.

7. RESOLUTIONS

After extensive deliberations, the meeting resolved as follows:

1.      All Southwest states should intensify efforts to complete the electronic membership registration exercise without delay.

2.      Completed membership forms will be submitted to the Southwest Chairman for onward transmission to the National Secretariat.

3.      The membership forms will be sent to the National Headquarters via courier service as directed by the National Chairman.

4.      Transportation costs for courier services will be jointly borne by participating state chapters.

5.      Each state chapter must submit ten nominees for electoral panel assignments before April 10, 2016.

6.      The APGA Southwest Summit will be held on a date to be selected between May 20 and May 22, 2016 by the National Chairman.

7.      Five committees will be constituted to organize the summit, with each state contributing five representatives.

8. ANY OTHER BUSINESS

Members emphasized the need for stronger collaboration among Southwest chapters and encouraged state leaders to intensify grassroots mobilization in order to strengthen the party’s structures across the region.

9. ADJOURNMENT

Following the conclusion of deliberations, Comrade Ololade Johnson moved the motion for adjournment, which was seconded by Hon. Olayinka Ijale.

The closing prayer was offered by Pastor Olatunde Dare, the Ondo State Chairman.

The meeting ended at 2:00 PM.