Politics
2023: Youths shutdown Ibadan with ‘walk for Tinubu’ {Photos}
Ahead of the September 28, set aside for the commencement of the campaign for Presidential and National Assembly elections, a group of youth on Thursday put Ibadan, the Oyo state capital on a major standstill as they staged a walk in solidarity for the All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential candidate, Bola Tinubu.
The youths, adorned in various customized T-shirts, face-cap and other attires with inscription and APC logo, embarked upon a solidarity walk tagged “Youths in Ibadan Walk for Asiwaju/Shettima” to sensitise the electorates as well as to garner support for their candidates which took them from the Oke-Ado party secretariat to Dugbe axis and back to the state’s party office.
The epoch-making event had in attendance the party’s governorship candidate, Sen. Teslim Folarin, Hon. Isaac Omodewu, APC Chairman, Engr. Aderemi Oseni, APC candidate for Ibarapa East/Ido federal constituency, late governors Lam Adesina and Adebayo Alao-Akalas’ sons, Hon. Adedapo Lam-Adesina and Hon. Olamiju Alao-Akala.
Others include Hon. Saheed Fijabi, Hon. Akin Alabi, the party’s spokesman, Alhaji Olawale Sadare, Hon. Mojeed Olaoya, the Oyo south senatorial chairman among others.
Addressing journalists, the governorship candidate of All Progressives Congress, (APC) in Oyo state, Senator Teslim Folarin noted that of all the presidential candidates jostling to succeed President Muhammadu Buhari, only Tinubu can deliver good governance for Nigerians.
Folarin added that other contenders for the former Lagos state governor do not have the ability and track records necessary to drive the much-needed positive changes Nigerians desire.
According to him, “We have not come here to campaign today but just to test the Mic. We are hearing that three candidates are contesting; Tinubu, Atiku and Peter Obi. Peter Obi of the Labour Party (LP) is only a presidential candidate for social media users, Atiku plunged us into where we are today. I’m happy with what I’m seeing here today, we’re only testing the mic, what would happen when we start the campaign proper?
“Considering Tinubu’s track records and his transformational programmes in Lagos, it is obvious that none of the other presidential candidates has Tinubu’s capacity to deliver.
“Either we support him or not, Asiwaju already has 60% votes in Oyo state, but with our collective support, he will score 80 to 85% votes. We also need to do the same thing for our National Assembly candidates because Asiwaju will need the support of members of the National Assembly who are from his political camp. Asiwaju’s election is the bulldozer that will clear the road for us in other elections.” Folarin declared.
Also in his remarks, the National Vice Chairman, APC South West, Mr Isaac Kekemeke described the event as just a preamble of what APC is planning to do when the campaign starts, warning any party member that engages in anti-party activities to stop doing so as such will not be tolerated in the party.
“There is only one APC in Oyo State and only one gubernatorial candidate which is Senator Teslim Folarin. There is only one party Chairman which is Isaac Omodewu. It is not possible to be in APC and belong to another party. I said this earlier and they abused me. Our party is one and this is what I want you the youth to go out and tell those that are outside. We won’t allow indiscipline in our party. We can’t afford to miss this opportunity that we missed in 1963 and 1993 again in 2023. Go to anyone you know that is our member and still engaging in anti-party activities, appeal to them but if they remain adamant, we will change strategy. We cannot allow that”, the APC chieftain warned.
In a related development, one of the conveners of the programme, Hon. Adedapo Lam-Adesina described the event as a wonderful one which has shown that Tinubu is an acceptable product that does not need to convince people before he was accepted.
The son of late governor Lam -Adesina who is the party’s candidate for Federal House of Representatives in Ibadan South East/North East Constituency, also clarified that the event was just for the youths within the 11 local government areas in Ibadan metropolis and not the entire Oyo APC youth.
He said, “With this mammoth crowd, you could imagine if it is Oyo APC youth and we just planned this in less than a week.”
A former Deputy Governor of Oyo State, Chief Moses Alake Adeyemo, has been sworn in as the Chairman of the Oyo State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC), urging members of the party to rally support for President Bola Tinubu ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Adeyemo formally assumed office on Friday following the inauguration of the newly elected State Executive Committee members who will manage the affairs of the party in the state for the next four years.
The inauguration ceremony, held at the party’s State Secretariat in Oke-Ado, Ibadan, marked the climax of the party’s 2026 congresses in the state.
The South-West Zonal Legal Adviser of the APC, Kolawole Majaro, administered the oath of office on Adeyemo and 35 other members of the State Executive Committee.
The executives had emerged through a consensus arrangement during the March 3, 2026 state congress held at the Obafemi Awolowo Stadium, Ibadan, under the supervision of a committee led by Amos Gombi from the APC National Secretariat in Abuja.
In his acceptance speech, Adeyemo described his emergence as a renewed call to service, pledging to strengthen the party and sustain unity among members.
He appreciated party leaders within and outside the state for ensuring a smooth and successful congress process.
Adeyemo also commended members of the Local Organising Committee, particularly Fatai Ibikunle and Afeez Bolaji Repete, for their contributions to the success of the exercise.
He said, “This new State Executive Committee under my leadership is being put in place to add value and strengthen our great party in view of the challenges ahead.
“We have used the opportunity of the congresses to showcase our collective commitment to unity and harmony as progressives and democrats.”
The new chairman expressed optimism that the atmosphere of peace within the party would be sustained ahead of future party primaries and the 2027 elections.
According to him, the party’s target is to secure 90 per cent of the votes in Oyo State for President Tinubu while also reclaiming the state’s Government House in 2027.
Adeyemo praised the President’s leadership, saying the administration was delivering on its promises.
“President Tinubu is, no doubt, performing beyond our expectations and the best way to appreciate his good work is to retain him in Aso Rock until 2031,” he said.
“Against all odds, the President is pursuing his Renewed Hope Agenda with vigour and passion, while the positive results are being felt across sectors of the economy and national life.”
Other members of the newly inaugurated executive include Taofeek Lamidi as Deputy Chairman, Fatai Adesina as State Secretary, Adekemi Opatunde as Woman Leader, Olawale Sadare as Publicity Secretary, Olalekan Oladejo as Youth Leader, and Remi Adepoju as Organising Secretary.
Also inaugurated were Ajiboye Akinsanya as Treasurer, Sunday Aborisade as Legal Adviser, Tinuade Adigun as Auditor, Lukman Owonikoko as Assistant State Secretary, Fatimah Hassan as Deputy Woman Leader, and Jimoh Osundara as the Leader of Persons Living With Disabilities, among others.
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.
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