••• Says PDP Branding on Bus Was Disgraceful to APM Members, Insists on Full Identification with New Party
Hon. Wale AJALA, a prominent political figure in Ona-Ara Local Government Area of Oyo State and a member of the Allied Peoples Movement (APM), has rebranded the local government party bus with APM insignia and photographs of the party’s candidates, reflecting the political realignment ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Speaking with Egalitarian Voice on the development, AJALA explained that the decision was prompted by his observation that the bus still carried the logo of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), despite the political realignment to APM.
According to him, retaining the PDP logo on the vehicle was embarrassing to him as an APM member, particularly when other local governments had reportedly rebranded their party buses to reflect the identity of the new political platform and showcase its candidates.
“I observed that the bus was carrying the PDP logo, and it was very disgraceful to us as APM members in our local government. I have seen party buses in many other local governments rebranded with APM insignia and carrying the pictures of all the candidates of our great party, so I found it necessary to do the same,” AJALA said.
He further stressed the need for members of the party to demonstrate their political affiliation through visible actions and proper identification of party structures and assets.
“We are fully in the Allied Peoples Movement (APM), and everything necessary must be put in place,” he stated.
The rebranded bus now features a new look, displaying the photographs of APM candidates alongside the positions they are seeking, from Governor Seyi Makinde’s presidential ambition to other candidates featured on the vehicle.
AJALA’s intervention is expected to make the party’s identity more visible in Ona-Ara while bringing the vehicle’s branding in line with the political platform it is now associated with.
Background to the Party Bus
Recall that the bus was presented to Hon. Wale AJALA by Oyo State Governor, Engr. Seyi Makinde, during AJALA’s service as Coordinator for Makinde’s re-election campaign under the Omituntun 2.0 initiative in 2023.
Following the election, AJALA handed over the bus to the party and has since continued to monitor its condition, maintenance and functionality.
His latest action focuses on updating the vehicle’s political branding to reflect the APM platform, following the party’s adoption as the political platform for the current political alignment.
APM Ona-Ara Party Branding Raises Questions
In another development, Egalitarian Voice reports that the APM structure in Ona-Ara Local Government is still associated with PDP colours in some of its visible branding as of the time of this report, raising questions about the pace of the transition in the local government.
The situation has drawn attention to the need for consistency in the party’s public identity, particularly as political activities and preparations for the 2027 general elections continue to gather momentum.
AJALA’s rebranding of the party bus highlights the importance of aligning party-owned or party-associated materials with the political platform they are intended to represent.
