2023: Oyo coalition finally breaks up, as ZLP, Ladoja’s group ditch Makinde for APC

Oyo’s coalition government led by Governor Seyi Makinde of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) is close to collapse as the Zenith Labour Party (ZLP) and former Governor Rashidi Ladoja’s political group in the state on Tuesday pulled out over what they justified “as urgent need to unite in order to save our dear state from economic collapse occasioned by insecurity, excessive borrowing and poor vision of Oyo State government”.

The Zenith Labour Party and the Ladoja’s Political group have collapsed their structures into the opposition All Progressives Congress (APC) in the state.

It will be recalled that in 2019, former Governor Ladoja midwife and lead a collation where the major opposition parties in the state adopted Seyi Makinde of the PDP, as Sarafadeen Alli, Olufemi Lanlehin among others sacrificed their governorship ambitions.

Meanwhile, Sen. Olufemi Lanlehin had earlier returned to the APC after the alliance with the Seyi Makinde led PDP government collapsed.

Lanlehin informed that his decision to quit the alliance was based on Governor Makinde’s non-compliance with the spirit and letters of the terms of the gubernatorial pre-election agreement reached between Governor Makinde and other opposition parties’ governorship candidates.

Continuing, in a communique jointly signed by the leadership and stakeholders of the party, at a special meeting held at the ZLP’s Samonda State Secretariat announced the move, saying that it decided to dissolve into the APC in order to save Oyo State from economic collapse occasioned by insecurity, excessive borrowing and poor vision of the Governor Seyi Makinde led government.

Also, the communique directed all members of ZLP and Ladoja Political Group to terminate all Ward, Local Government and executive meetings; and partake in the ongoing membership registration and revalidation exercise of APC in the state.

The meeting, thereafter passed a vote of confidence on the leadership of former Governor Rashidi Ladoja as well as other leaders and the executive steering the affairs of the ZLP, Ladoja Political Group and Ladoja loyalists.

The stakeholders, however urged media teams of the APC and the ZLP to adopt a common criticism agenda.