Kayode Babayomi is the chairman of African Action Congress (AAC) in Oyo State. In this interview with RUKIYAT OGUNWADE, he speaks about the party’s readiness to take over the state, its structures and plans ahead of the 2027 general elections. Excerpts:
How would you assess the current state of AAC in Oyo State as we approach the 2027 general elections?
AAC is growing exponentially every day both in Oyo State and nationwide. As the only digital revolutionary party in Nigeria, our reach can be verified on our website and apps by any metric you choose, which is a testament to the dedication of our members at home and abroad. We are the true opposition in Oyo State and the only party fully prepared for the 2027 elections. The party is in great shape, guided by capable hands to steer us to victory. Unlike eight years ago, we are deeply rooted on the ground, and our momentum continues to build daily.
What specific structures has AAC put in place to mobilise voters?
We have expanded our foothold across communities, wards, and all local governments in Oyo State, far beyond where we stood in the past. We now have active local government coordinators and chairpersons across the board. Our message resonates deeply with the people of Oyo State because they see us as the only true alternative, a party that stands by them continuously, not just during campaign season. This is evident in our track record of advocacy, including our fight for those affected by the circular road project, our support for teachers, and our commitment to the general well-being of the people. This organic support has enabled us to build solid organisational structures and mobilise volunteers across every corner of the state.
How is your membership drive and how many new members has AAC registered in Oyo in the last 12 months?
Our membership drive in Oyo State has exceeded all expectations, with hundreds of new members joining us daily. We have made joining seamless: anyone can register using just a phone number. As Nigeria’s pioneer digital political party, this technology gives us a massive advantage. We have even ensured that individuals without smartphones are not left behind. Going a step further, we launched a mobile app that allows members to register at their specific polling units and actively participate in all party activities. In the last 12 months alone, we have registered thousands of new members, a number that continues to grow exponentially every single day.
How did you arrive at the candidates for various posts towards the next election consensus or direct primaries?
We have fielded exceptional candidates through a process that was robust, transparent, and democratic. In fact, INEC officials held our primary elections up as a model of accountability for other parties to emulate, which is why we have zero internal rancor. In the AAC, our constitution is respected at all times. To qualify for our ticket, an aspirant must have been a financial, due-paying member for at least two years and complete our compulsory educational and ideological training. If an aspirant fails this process, they will not be considered. Every candidate we present—from the presidency down to the Senate, House of Representatives, and State Assembly—has passed this rigorous screening. Unlike other parties, we do not sell tickets to the highest bidder; our process is fair, accessible, and completely transparent.
Did you consider zoning arrangements for key positions in the state?
Our approach focuses on public acceptance, ideological alignment, and reading the people’s pulse. Our internal process is designed to reflect the will of the majority, not the interests of a select few. Ideology is at the heart of everything we do. When a party’s policies are driven by strong principles, members naturally align with its decisions because the foundation is solid and clear.
Decision-making in our party is driven entirely by our membership and grounded in principles rather than regional sentiment or zoning. At the same time, our constitution guarantees true inclusion: we have Deputy National Chairmen across all six geopolitical zones, while at the state level, we have Vice Chairmen representing every senatorial district. This ensures balanced and comprehensive representation everywhere.
What are the major issues AAC will campaign with in Oyo State for 2027?
Our manifesto is comprehensive, focusing primarily on public welfare, security, and education. While these sound like standard promises made by other parties, our approach is truly people-centred rather than tailored to the whims of the political elite in Agodi. Under our administration, the people come first. We will develop state properties for the public good. We guarantee free education in safe, protected environments, alongside free transportation for students in both public and private schools. Paying basic salaries is a standard duty, not an achievement. We will properly empower teachers and ensure they have a dignified pension to fall back on after retirement.
On infrastructure, we will construct vital farm-to-market roads and repair inner-city roads across Oyo State. We will also renovate state properties and position our tourist sites to drive economic growth on a global scale. Healthcare will be completely free in all state-owned hospitals, offering comprehensive, zero-cost care for pregnant women from antenatal through postnatal stages.
Regarding security, we will reform and fully integrate Amotekun into the civil service structure to ensure officers are properly equipped, placed on a regular payroll, and provided with retirement benefits. We will also deploy modern technology to secure every corner of the state. Finally, we believe in true local government autonomy and will ensure it thrives under our leadership.
Manifestos of political parties seem to be same in Nigeria, how does AAC’s manifesto differ from others?
Our manifesto puts the masses first, focusing on security, education, and genuine welfare. Other parties talk about these things, but we are not governed by the interests of Agodi; we answer directly to the people. We won’t sell off public assets, we will build on them for the collective good.
Education will be free, including free transportation for all students, whether in public or private schools. Paying salaries isn’t an achievement, it’s a basic responsibility. Beyond salaries, we will empower our teachers and guarantee a secure post-retirement life.
We will fix our crumbling internal roads and build direct access roads to our farms to boost agriculture. We will turn Oyo’s tourism potential into real revenue for our economy. Healthcare will be free across all government facilities, with total coverage for pregnant women from antenatal to postnatal care.
To guarantee safety, we will professionalise Amotekun by placing officers on full civil service payroll with pensions, proper equipment, and technology-driven surveillance. Above all, we believe in full local government autonomy and will ensure it thrives under our administration.
Given the challenges of unemployment and infrastructure, what is AAC’s blueprint for Oyo youths?
The AAC blueprint for the youth is clear and you can see it in our leadership, which is driven primarily by young people. Our commitment to the youth will not end on election day, we will deliver genuine empowerment, not the token handouts typical of the PDP and APC.
Our employment strategy targets every key sector, including agriculture, technology, industrial development, and education. Youths seeking specialised skills will receive the necessary support to become self-reliant and achieve their ambitions. In technology, we will establish tech hubs across all three senatorial zones in Oyo State, equipping every graduate with the necessary tools upon completion of their program.
Furthermore, we will provide scholarships and sponsor young professionals for international training to complement their local expertise. Young people are the ultimate engine of any nation, and our administration will always put them first.
What is your party doing to combat vote buying, thuggery and other electoral malpractices?
We are leveraging technology to transform how politics is done in Nigeria. The Sowore2027 app features powerful tools that will change the game, and while we won’t disclose all of them before the right time, I encourage all Nigerians, regardless of party affiliation, to download the app and explore its capabilities. We are blazing a trail in digital mobilization and election monitoring, placing us miles ahead of any other political party in the country. We are living in a tech-driven world, and the AAC is leading that charge with innovative solutions to our national challenges while ensuring full transparency.
Is AAC open to alliances or coalitions with other opposition parties ahead of 2027?
Yes, the AAC is open to genuine alliances and coalitions, but any arrangement must be founded on principles, not simply on the arithmetic of sharing political positions. For us, the central question is clear and that is what are we coming together to achieve?
If the objective is to provide the people of Oyo State with a credible alternative to the failed political establishment, defend democracy, protect the interests of workers, students, farmers, and young people, and offer a fundamentally different model of governance, then we are prepared to engage.
However, the AAC will not enter a coalition merely to reproduce the same broken politics that brought Nigeria and Oyo State to this point. Any alliance must be rooted in a clear programme, democratic internal processes, total transparency, and an unwavering commitment to the public good. We are ready to work with individuals, political parties, civic movements, and progressive forces that share these core principles. For us, power is not about who gets which position; it is about the kind of Oyo State we are determined to build.