APC members warn against past errors at congress
By Sam Anokam There is fresh internal division at the state congress in Oyo State All Progressives Congress, raising fears the development could weaken its chances in 2027 governorship election.
By Sam Anokam
There is fresh internal division at the state congress in Oyo State All Progressives Congress, raising fears the development could weaken its chances in 2027 governorship election.
Critics of the process alleged the outcome has reopened old fault lines similar to those that affected the party in 2018 and 2022, which they claim contributed to APC’s defeats to Peoples Democratic Party.
In the centre of the controversy is a 82-year-old former deputy governor under the late Governor Abiola Ajimobi, as state chairman, following zoning of the chairmanship to Oke-Ogun. The decision, according to aggrieved members, was reached through a “consensus” driven by a few leaders, despite opposition from other zones and calls by youths in the party for a younger chairman.
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Some party stakeholders alleged the congress was taken over by influential figures in the party, including Mrs. Florence Ajimobi and businessman, Zach Adelabu, who they claimed, determined the outcome. There were allegations Adelabu funded nomination forms for ward, local government and state congresses, while also influencing composition of the zoning committee. These claims, however, remain unverified.
Aggrieved members alleged the goal is to pave the way for Senator Sharafadeen Alli as governorship candidate, with Adelabu’s younger brother allegedly as possible running mate. They argued such a ticket would struggle to gain acceptance in the state.
According to critics, another underlying objective is to create room for Kolapo Kola-Daisi, said to be an in-law of the Ajimobi family, to secure Oyo South senatorial ticket. The ticket had previously been a subject of controversy in the 2023 primaries, when Alli won despite his earlier movement to Accord. They also noted that Remi Oseni is being promoted for the same senatorial seat by another faction in the party.
The dissenting voices described Alli as the least performing among the three senators representing the state, and queried his popularity and electoral strength. They cited the Ibadan North Federal Constituency by-election, where APC reportedly lost to PDP, alleging Alli was unable to deliver his own ward and surrounding areas in the contest.
This, they said, has raised concerns over how a senator who allegedly failed to secure victory in his ward could be trusted to deliver the state in the governorship election.
The critics also dismissed the reliance on “Ibadan factor” in determining APC’s electoral strategy, arguing the politics of Oyo has shifted, with other zones now strongly united in demanding power rotation. They warned that presenting another Ibadan candidate could alienate voters in Oke-Ogun, Ibarapa, Oyo and Ogbomosho, where many are said to be expecting the next governor to emerge.
