The Minister of State for Works, Bello Muhammad Goronyo, has called on Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde to join the All Progressives Congress (APC).

Goronyo made the appeal on Monday during the flag-off of the dualisation of the Ibadan-Ijebu Road in Ogun State. President Bola Tinubu was represented at the event by Ogun State Governor Dapo Abiodun.

The minister said Makinde’s decision to join the APC would help Oyo State work more closely with the Federal Government and benefit from the development programmes of the Tinubu administration.

Goronyo specifically urged the governor to leave the Allied Peoples Movement (APM), the platform on which Makinde is currently seeking to pursue his 2027 presidential ambition.

“I therefore warmly welcome and openly invite His Excellency the Governor of Oyo State, Mr Engineer Seyi Makinde, to take the natural giant step into the All Progressives Congress,” Goronyo said.

He also appealed to Makinde to align Oyo State with the Federal Government under President Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.

Makinde was not present at the road project’s flag-off ceremony, despite the project involving a major route connecting Ibadan in Oyo State with Ijebu in Ogun State.

Goronyo also praised Ogun State Governor Dapo Abiodun for his contribution to infrastructure development and said the APC-led administration was accelerating development across the country.

The event was attended by several dignitaries, including Minister of Works Dave Umahi, the Olubadan of Ibadan, Oba Rasheed Ladoja, Ogun State Deputy Governor Noimot Salako-Oyedele and the APC governorship candidate in Oyo State, Sharafdeen Abiodun Alli.

The minister’s appeal comes amid growing political realignments ahead of the 2027 general elections, with Makinde linked to the APM presidential platform.