2023: Ultimate search for new Oyo APC chairman

Despite various efforts aimed at reconciling aggrieved members and thereafter build a formidable party to reclaim power in 2023, the intrigues surrounding who emerges as the next Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Oyo state chapter appear to be deepening.

Interestingly, a powerful Bloc within the party, in conjunction with some members of the Caretaker Committee-led by Chief Akin Oke, are clandestinely appeared ready to determine who succeed the Ogbomoso born politician.

No doubt, there is a big ultimate search for the party’s new chairman to succeed Chief Akin Oke, as major stakeholders appeared desperate.

The APC ward and local government congresses in the state have exposed the desperation of some gladiators as they tried to outsmart and compromised the processes.

Though these gladiators pretended to show concern as an indivisible political family with a common goal to return to the Agodi Government House, but their actions and body languages, as witnessed during the recent concluded ward and local government congresses proved otherwise.

Chief Akin Oke, having been in the saddle for almost 11 years, the party’s stakeholders in the state saw the need for a change of baton, thus making major gladiators to continuously engaging, sensitizing other stakeholders and members of the party in all the geopolitical zones comprising Ibadan, Ibarapa , Oke-Ogun, Oyo among others on how they should vote responsibly in the forthcoming state congress.

Mega Icon Magazine learnt that the gladiators may not agree on  consensus arrangement which may further hindered the party to successfully present its State Executives as some are united in the quest to break political barriers.

Speaking incognito, one of the highly revered stakeholders in the Oyo APC told our correspondent that there are growing agitations over zoning within the party, as groups decided to commence the search for a credible replacement for the outgoing chairman, whose tenure broke the second term jinx in the state and produced the late Governor Abiola Ajimobi.

Meanwhile, some elders of the APC in 10 local government councils in Oke-Ogun area of the state had earlier endorsed an aspirant from the zone as their choice candidate for the governorship ticket in 2023.

They also resolved not to vie for the chairmanship position of the APC in the forthcoming congress of the party.

The stakeholders further argued that Oyo North Senatorial District has produced the Chairman of the party for the past 10 years in the person of Chief Oke, adding that it is the turn of other Senatorial zones to produce the Chairman of the party.

However logical the argument may sound, the APC leader, who confided in Mega Icon Magazine insisted that the old order is likely to persist as the pattern of power scheming in the state may be a replica of what it was historically.

Having sensed the danger ahead of Saturday’s state congress, the APC leaders in Oyo state  arrived at a zoning template for the state executive committee – a dramatic turn of events , which has lessened desperation among major governorship contenders.

Although, it was rumoured that some stakeholders in the party have tipped Ibadan candidates for the governorship ticket, just as they are working tirelessly to achieve their political agenda.

However, among others, the leaders, had resolved that all elective positions, especially governor, deputy governor and Senators in 2023 are open to all the 33 local government areas of the state.

Also, at the meeting held at the Ibadan residence of former governor Adebayo Alao-Akala, leaders of the party agreed that Oke-Ogun Zone 1 will produce the next state Chairman.

At the meeting, which had in attendance, Caretaker Chairman of the party, Chief Akin Oke; former deputy governor of Oyo State, Chief Moses Alake; Chief Samuel Adegbiji Adekola, C.A Ajibade, Alhaji Abu Gbadamosi, B.A Ajibade; former speaker and serving minority leader of Oyo State House of Assembly, Honourable Asimiyu Alarape; Chief Kunle Sanda, Chief Timothy Alarape Jolaoso and Mogaji Banji Olorode, resolved that Ibarapa zone is to produce the next state deputy Chairman while the state Secretary is to emerge from the Oyo zone.

Despite assurances given by the leaders, power game is now more obvious in the Oyo APC ahead of tomorrow’s state congress as the gladiators viewed the zoning template as a political strategy to pave way for an Ibadan governorship candidate to emerge.

In the last 48 hours, some Oke-Ogun candidates whose names keep popping up for the Oyo APC chairmanship seat, according to our checks, included the former Chairman of TESCOM, Alhaji Abu Gbadamosi .

Interestingly, a few months ago, the Oke-Ogun APC elders resolved in Ilero, Kajola Local Government, after a stakeholders meeting presided over by Alhaji Abu Gbadamosi at his Ilero residence not to vie for the chairmanship position of the APC in the state among other resolutions.

Also, the stakeholders, at the meeting reportedly endorsed an Oke-Ogun indigene as their preferred governorship candidate.

However, frequent mentioning of former Oyo TESCOM boss, as likely successor to Oke, may be a clog to the decision to zone governorship ticket to Oke-ogun.

Sources further hinted that another name being considered for the post is Chief Goke Oyetunji, a former Senatorial Chairman of the APC in Oyo North; while some stakeholders are scheming for a former scribe of the defunct Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) in the state, Hon. Dele Akinleye.

Continuing, Comrade Raheem Oyebisi, former Olorunsogo local government chairman, also have a prospect of succeeding Chief Oke

Interesting times lie ahead as the Oyo state chapter of the APC will tomorrow, Saturday, 16th October, 2021  elect its new state executive officers, a significant political hurdle that will either mar or make the party, especially in its quest to returning to the Agodi Government House in 2023.