IBADAN — In a move that has sparked intense debate across the Southwest, prominent Yoruba Nation activist Chief Sunday Adeyemo, popularly known as Sunday Igboho, appears to have transitioned from separatist agitation to partisan politics under the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
The self-acclaimed freedom fighter was spotted on Tuesday, March 3, 2026, wearing a cap branded with the APC logo during high-profile social and political engagements in Ibadan.
Visual Identification with the Ruling Party
Igboho’s apparent shift became public when he attended the APC State Congress at the Liberty Stadium in Ibadan. He later proceeded to the palace of the Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Rasheed Ladoja, for the first Ramadan lecture of the season.
In viral video clips from the event, Igboho was seen greeting prominent figures, including the monarch and the guest lecturer, Sheikh Muyideen Salmon, while wearing the APC-branded “fez cap”.
Support for Tinubu’s Re-election
Beyond the visual branding, Igboho has publicly aligned himself with the administration of President Bola Tinubu. During a recent visit to the Chairman of the Police Service Commission (PSC), Hashimu Argungu, the activist called for national unity and expressed support for the President’s progressive development agenda ahead of the 2027 general elections.
He also lauded the President for recent security appointments, including the naming of Tunji Disu as the new acting Inspector General of Police (IGP).
A Path of Reconciliation
This political pivot follows a period of de-escalation between Igboho and the Federal Government:
- Freedom from Exile: After years of legal battles in the Benin Republic, Igboho was officially removed from the government’s wanted list following interventions by prominent traditional rulers.
- Return to Nigeria: He returned to the country in January 2026 after nearly five years in exile, during which he expressed gratitude to President Tinubu and Southwest governors for facilitate his safe return.
- Renouncing Unrest:Â He has previously distanced himself from anti-government protests, stating that the Southwest should not be used as a “battleground for political upheaval”.
Mixed Reactions
The development has elicited a flurry of reactions. While some observers view his entry into the “City Boy Movement” as a strategic move to secure the interests of the Yoruba people from within the ruling structure, others in the self-determination movement have labeled the shift as a “compromise” of his original stance on Yoruba freedom.
Next Steps: While Igboho has not yet officially declared for a specific political office, his active presence at party functions suggests he is set to play a significant role in APC’s 2027 mobilisation efforts across the Southwest.
