Politics
2023 : Don’t polarise Oyo APC, Oke cautions Akala
The outgoing Caretaker Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Oyo state, Chief Akin Oke, has cautioned former Governor Adebayo Alao-Akala against divisive tendencies capable of further polarising the party in the state
Oke, also alleged that the former governor has finally unmasked himself as the brain behind the plot to cause schism in the party, describing Akala’s action as “very disappointing”.
He assured that the party would emerge stronger from the current crisis characterising the emergence of the new set of State Executive Committee members.
Speaking to a section of the media at the State Secretariat of the party in Oke-Ado, Ibadan, on Friday, after the meeting of party leaders held in compliance with a directive from the APC’s national secretariat, Chief Oke played down the possibility of Oyo APC going into war with itself ahead of the 2023 general election.
The outgoing chairman said, “At the peace meeting which we attended at the national secretariat of our Party last week, we were directed to come back home and sort things out. The national secretary, Sen. John James Akpanudoedehe, mandated us to ask the zonal leaders to revalidate the initial harmonized list to reflect the input of all tendencies. More than 40 critical stakeholders were at the Abuja meeting and the Secretary was very apt in his address.
“The zonal leaders swung into action immediately and they communicated their efforts to me through phone conversations. I must reveal that the national secretariat had a telephone conference with Chief Alao-Akala and myself on Wednesday during which the peace template was re-established. I later engaged the former governor on a private phone conversation and we both agreed to a physical meeting on Friday (today) with the zonal leaders to review what they might have done in their respective zones.
“But to my surprise, Chief Alao-Akala issued a statement the same day where he announced that the meeting for the ratification of harmonized lists drawn from all the seven zones would take place in his private residence and invited unauthorized persons in clear negation of the directive we got from Abuja. The question to ask here is; when did the APC become the property of an individual? It seems the former governor mistakes the ‘A’ in the acronym of our party for either Alao or Akala.
“Nevertheless, he remains my brother and a critical stakeholder in our Party unless he is trying to say otherwise. Nine out of the eleven members of the Harmonization Committee came to the Party Secretariat today (Friday) to do the needful and they all signed the documents generated. At this juncture, I must state that my brother (Bayo Akala) should learn to leave above board and stop polarising the Progressive family. I understand he has finally unmasked himself as the brain behind the plot to cause schism in our party and I find this very disappointing”, he alleged.
Oke continued, “If he thinks the best thing to do at a time like this is to make himself the godfather of one out of about 15 governorship aspirants, I wish him well. Meanwhile, It is very disappointing that he could employ funny tactics to aid those whose only wish is to hijack the party for their own selfish ambitions but I can assure the whole world that the committed Progressives would not watch and allow them destroy their heritage.
“What they did at Alao-Akala’s residence today was just to further manifest their undemocratic traits. They brought the same Lawan Gambo and his friends as Appeal Committee members today and we have confirmed that the national Secretariat did not send them to the state for any assignment. Just last week, Gambo was put to shame in the open when it was established that the delegate list he brought to us the last time was fake. In the end, justice will prevail and all the anti-democratic forces in our Party will be exposed.
“As a matter of fact, we are in regular contact with the national secretariat of our party and we have been asked to bring the authentic harmonized list of state Executive Committee which would reflect the true wish of the generality of party membership. To this end, I urge genuine party faithful and the general public to remain calm as everything will be alright in no time”, the Oyo APC chairman reassured.
The Senator representing Bayelsa West, Seriake Dickson, on Thursday announced his resignation from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), declaring that he had joined the newly registered Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC).
Dickson, a former governor of Bayelsa State, made the announcement during a media briefing in Abuja, attributing his decision to what he described as irreconcilable differences within the PDP.
The lawmaker said the emergence of the NDC would strengthen Nigeria’s democratic system by providing a credible opposition platform.
According to him, the party recently received its certificate of registration from the Independent National Electoral Commission.
He said, “Last week INEC issued a certificate of registration and we now have the newest party in Nigeria known as the Nigeria Democratic Congress and our symbol is victory, the victory sign.
“So, my dear Nigerians, you now have a credible alternative opposition party known as the Nigeria Democratic Congress.”
Dickson noted that although the party’s registration took longer than expected, its eventual approval was a welcome development for the country’s democratic landscape.
“Yes, it is coming at this time. We would have wished it started some years or months back. We don’t control INEC and their processes; they delayed. We don’t also control the judiciary, but thank God it has finally arrived,” he said.
The senator also stressed that Nigeria’s democracy must not slide into a one-party system, insisting that political diversity remained vital for national stability.
“This nation cannot be a one-party state. Nigeria cannot be a one-party state. Nigeria is not designed to be a one-party state.
“We are a very diverse nation culturally, religiously and politically and that is the beauty of our country.
“So anyone or any party promoting one-party rule in Nigeria is mistaken. We build political parties and get involved in movements to access power for the good of the people, not for our personal benefit,” he added.
Meanwhile, the Independent National Electoral Commission recently announced the registration of two new political parties.
The parties are the Democratic Leadership Alliance and the Nigeria Democratic Congress, bringing the total number of registered political parties in Nigeria to 21.
The announcement was made by the INEC Chairman, Prof. Joash Amupitan, during the commission’s first quarterly consultative meeting with political party stakeholders for 2026.
According to him, the Democratic Leadership Alliance completed the required verification process, while the Nigeria Democratic Congress was registered in compliance with a Federal High Court order.
The Chairman, House of Representatives Committee on Federal Roads Maintenance Agency (FERMA) and member representing Ibarapa East/Ido Federal Constituency, Hon. Aderemi Oseni, has congratulated the newly elected State Executive Committee of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Oyo State.
The party, at its state congress held on Tuesday at Liberty Stadium, Ibadan, elected a former Deputy Governor of the state, Moses Alake Adeyemo, as its new chairman alongside other state executive members.
Oseni, in a statement on Wednesday by his media aide, Idowu Ayodele, described Adeyemo’s emergence as well-deserved, noting that his experience and longstanding commitment to the party would further strengthen its structure in the state.
He said the peaceful conduct of the congress demonstrated the party’s commitment to internal democracy and progressive leadership.
The statement said, “I congratulate our newly elected State Chairman and leader, His Excellency, Moses Alake Adeyemo, and other members of the State Executive Committee on their emergence. This victory reflects the confidence reposed in them by party members across the state.”
Oseni further expressed confidence that the new leadership would reposition the party for greater cohesion and electoral success.
According to him, “This is a critical moment for our party in Oyo State. It calls for unity, reconciliation, and renewed commitment to the ideals that bind us together as progressives.”
The federal lawmaker assured the new executives of his support and cooperation in advancing the programmes of the party and strengthening its grassroots structures.
He urged party members to rally behind the new leadership to ensure stability and secure future victories for the APC in the state.
Politics
Ibarapa East Assembly Hopeful, Ramon Congratulates Ajiboye, Says Emergence Good for Oyo APC
An aspirant for the Ibarapa East State Constituency seat in the Oyo State House of Assembly, Engr. Yusuf Abiodun Ramon, on Tuesday congratulated Alhaji Lateef Akinsanya (Ajiboye) on his emergence as the State Treasurer of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Oyo State.
Akinsanya was elected at the party’s state congress held today, a development party faithful in Ibarapa East Local Government described as significant for the zone’s growing influence within the APC structure.
In a statement issued shortly after the announcement of the results, Ramon described Ajiboye’s victory as “well-deserved and timely.”
According to him, “Alhaji Lateef Akinsanya has remained steadfast, loyal and committed to the ideals of our great party. His emergence as State Treasurer is a clear affirmation of the trust and confidence members have in his integrity and administrative competence.”
Ramon noted that the election of a party stalwart from Ibarapa East into a critical financial office at the state level would further strengthen grassroots participation and unity within the APC.
“This is not just a personal victory for Ajiboye; it is a collective achievement for Ibarapa East. It reinforces our relevance in the progressive family and encourages broader inclusion in party administration,” he said.
The aspirant expressed confidence that the new treasurer would discharge his responsibilities with transparency, accountability and diligence in order to deepen internal democracy and institutional stability within the party.
He urged party leaders and members across Oyo State to close ranks in support of the newly elected executive members to ensure cohesion and effective management of party affairs ahead of future political engagements.
Ramon reaffirmed his commitment to the growth of the APC in Ibarapa East and Oyo State at large, stressing that sustained unity and responsible leadership remain essential to consolidating the party’s strength across the state.
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