Politics
2027: APC’s Oyo North Senate Ticket – A Race to Watch
As political activities steadily intensify ahead of the 2027 general elections, the unfolding contest within the All Progressives Congress (APC) for the Oyo North senatorial ticket has become one of the most engaging political conversations in Oyo State. What initially appeared to be a settled matter has reopened dramatically following the declaration by the incumbent, Senator Abdulfatai Buhari, that he will not seek a fourth term at the National Assembly. Buhari, who has served three consecutive terms and maintained a broad influence in Oke-Ogun and some parts of Ogbomoso, has instead shifted focus to the 2027 governorship race—a move that has reshaped political permutations within APC.
File photo : Senator Abdulfatai Buhari,
For over a decade, Buhari’s stabilising presence gave APC a reliable advantage in Oyo North. His vast constituency outreach, signature empowerment schemes, and his ability to connect with the average voter contributed to the party’s dominance across the district. His decision not to re-contest has, however, reignited longstanding agitation within Oke-Ogun, whose stakeholders have consistently argued that the senatorial seat had been over-concentrated in Ogbomoso. With Buhari acknowledging the evolving political expectations and redirecting his ambition toward Agodi Government House, the road to 2027 has become wide open.
Oyo North, comprising thirteen local government areas spread across Ogbomoso and Oke-Ogun zones, is renowned for its political diversity and shifting alliances.Oyo North, comprising thirteen local government areas spread across Ogbomoso and Oke-Ogun zones, is renowned for its political diversity and shifting alliances. Its LGAs—Atisbo, Irepo, Iseyin, Itesiwaju, Iwajowa, Kajola, Ogbomosho North, Ogbomosho South, Olorunsogo, Orelope, Ori Ire, Saki East, and Saki West —host distinct political tendencies that often determine outcomes at both primary and general elections. With Buhari’s exit, attention has now shifted to three major aspirants whose growing activities, consultations and subtle mobilisation have set the stage for a high-stakes internal contest.
One of the most prominent names is Professor Adeolu Akande, a lawyer, journalist, political scientist and former Chief of Staff to the late former Governor Abiola Ajimobi. Akande, who also served as ex-Chairman of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), remains one of the most intellectually grounded figures in Oyo APC.
Prof. Adeolu Akande
Akande is from Otu, in Itesiwaju local government. His experience cuts across national politics, public administration and regulatory governance. He previously served as Deputy Chief Press Secretary to Vice President Atiku Abubakar in 2001 before becoming Special Assistant on Research and Communication Strategies to President Olusegun Obasanjo in 2003. With such a robust background, many within APC view him as a candidate who can elevate the district’s legislative relevance in Abuja. His appeal lies in his technocratic depth, policy expertise and the strategic calm. The major challenge he faces, however, is the absence of electoral history. Unlike other aspirants who have been repeatedly tested at the polls, Akande must convince delegates that the sophistication of his administrative record can translate effectively into political deliverables at the grassroots. Nevertheless, his early consultations suggest that he is already consolidating structures across Oyo North and strengthening bonds with critical party actors whose influence often shapes delegate loyalty.
Another strong contender is Mrs Hannah Olawunmi Ogunesan, a former Head of Service (HOS) in Oyo State and a respected administrator from Saki East Local Government.
Mrs. Hannah Ogunesan
Known for her firm yet inclusive style during the Ajimobi administration, Ogunesan commanded significant influence across the state’s civil service and political structures. Her involvement in identifying, mentoring and empowering political office holders, especially in the zone during her tenure has given her a strong grassroots presence, and also among women and civil service-oriented political blocs. Her candidacy introduces a compelling gender dimension in a district historically dominated by male politicians. Reports within political circles suggest she enjoys quiet goodwill from the presidency, especially through her relationship with First Lady Senator Oluremi Tinubu and that of late governor’s wife, Chief Florence Ajimobi. This has contributed to growing excitement among women’s groups and party members eager to see greater female representation at the federal level. Yet, like Akande, Ogunesan will have to overcome the perception of being new to direct electoral contests. She must intensify her engagements and demonstrate that administrative discipline can be transformed into political structure strong enough to win a senatorial primary and general elections.
In a related development, her relationship with the incumbent occupant of the seat, Sen. Buhari could be referenced to as an added advantage to her political aspiration.
The third formidable aspirant is Hon. Kareem Tajudeen Abisodun, popularly known as ‘Were’, a three-term member of the House of Representatives.
Hon. Tajudeen Kareem Abisodun Were
Representing Saki West/Saki East/Atisbo Federal Constituency. Tajudeen Were, is believed to have built a loyal constituency network anchored on continuous grassroots engagement which has given him rhythmic electoral victories. His current role as Chairman of the House Committee on Aviation Technology has further elevated his profile and broadened his connections within the national assembly. His biggest advantage lies in his electoral pedigree; he has survived tough contests and won repeatedly, making him the most field-tested contender among the trio. Across Saki East, Saki West and Atisbo, he is believed to be able to influence an impressive delegate base that may provide a strong launchpad into the primaries. However, while his political machinery is solid in parts of Oke-Ogun, he must expand his influence beyond his familiar territory into Kajola, Iwajowa and Ogbomoso axis, among other several local governments within Oyo North Senatorial district, where political loyalty is often determined by long-term relationships, not federal-level visibility. Without broadening his coalition, he faces the risk of a limited geographical advantage in a race that requires district-wide consolidation.
Beyond the individual strengths of the aspirants, the APC contest in Oyo North is deeply tied to internal power configurations. Stakeholders at the state level, including influential members of the late Ajimobi’s political family, Abuja-based powerbrokers and strategic party elders across Oke-Ogun, will be decisive in determining who secures the ticket. The influence of Senator Buhari remains particularly significant. Though now focused on the governorship, his political structure—built over twelve years—may tilt the scales in favour of an aspirant whose emergence does not conflict with his broader generational ambition. Delegates, under the APC’s primary framework, hold immense power. How the aspirants navigate ward leadership, LGA executives and zonal caucuses will ultimately decide their fate.
Grassroots mobilisation remains the heartbeat of electoral success in Oyo North. The district’s political culture demands consistent local engagement, especially with farmers, artisans, traditional rulers, youth organisations, market unions, religious leaders, community leadership and development associations. Any aspirant hoping to emerge must match or surpass the level of penetration Buhari achieved. This includes organising town hall meetings, expanding ward structures and articulating development plans that resonate across the district’s socio-economic landscape.
Funding will also shape the race. Senatorial contests require robust financial capacity to mobilise supporters, maintain campaign offices, fund consultations and execute strategic outreach. Akande’s connections in both public and private sectors, Ogunesan’s blended support across civil service networks and women-based organisations, and Kareem’s constituency-driven structure all present varying financial strengths. Yet, the campaign’s effectiveness—not just capacity—will be the determining factor.
As the primaries inch closer, the outcome will have far-reaching implications for the general election. A united APC increases the likelihood of retaining the seat, but a divisive or poorly managed primary could trigger internal fractures, defection of aggrieved blocs or parallel mobilisation that opposition parties may readily exploit. APC must present a strong, cohesive front if it hopes to maintain control in 2027.
The race for the APC ticket in Oyo North stands today as a defining moment for the party. With a technocrat in Akande, a barrier-breaking administrator in Ogunesan and a seasoned legislator in Kareem, the contest presents a rich blend of intellectual capacity, gender representation and electoral competence. Whoever emerges must not only win the trust of delegates but also articulate a vision capable of uniting a politically diverse district.
As political manoeuvres intensify, alliances broaden and silent negotiations unfold, Oyo North remains one of the most intriguing battlegrounds to watch ahead of 2027—an arena where experience, ambition and strategy will ultimately determine the future of APC’s dominance.
The Independent National Electoral Commission has declared the Governor of Ekiti State and candidate of the All Progressives Congress, Biodun Oyebanji, winner of Saturday’s governorship election in the state.
The Returning Officer for the election, Prof. Adenike Oladiji, announced the result at about 3:13 a.m. on Sunday in Ado-Ekiti, saying Oyebanji polled 319,224 votes to defeat his closest rivals and secure a second term in office.
According to Oladiji, who is the Vice-Chancellor of the Federal University of Technology, Akure, the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, Oluwole Oluyede, garnered 40,543 votes, while the African Democratic Congress candidate, Dare Bejide, secured 12,872 votes.
She said 384,940 voters were accredited for the election, while 375,777 valid votes were recorded. The electoral umpire also announced that 6,332 votes were rejected, bringing the total number of votes cast to 382,109.
The declaration capped a governorship poll largely adjudged peaceful by observers and security agencies, despite complaints of malfunctioning Bimodal Voter Accreditation System machines, delayed commencement of voting in some polling units and allegations of voter intimidation by opposition parties.
INEC said voting was conducted in all the 2,445 polling units across the state’s 16 local government areas, noting that 2,257 units, representing 92.31 per cent, opened before 8.30 a.m., while 188 polling units commenced accreditation and voting before 10.30 a.m. after experiencing minor delays.
The commission also commenced uploading polling unit results to its Results Viewing Portal shortly after the completion of voting and counting in several centres.
The PDP candidate, Oluyede, had expressed dissatisfaction with the conduct of the exercise at Ugele/Arokun Ward in Ikere Local Government Area, alleging that many prospective voters were disenfranchised due to BVAS-related challenges.
Speaking with journalists after voting at Polling Unit 006, he further alleged cases of harassment and intimidation of voters in the area.
Some elderly voters at the polling unit also lamented difficulties encountered during accreditation and urged INEC to urgently rectify the technical glitches.
The ADC candidate, Bejide, similarly alleged irregularities during the exercise.
However, Oyebanji dismissed the claims, insisting that those making allegations of electoral misconduct should provide credible evidence to support them.
The governor, who voted at Polling Unit 003, Okelele, Ikogosi-Ekiti, in Ekiti West Local Government Area, described the election as satisfactory and urged eligible voters yet to cast their ballots to do so peacefully.
The Commissioner of Police in charge of election security, Abayomi Shogunle, said no case of vote-buying was reported to security agencies throughout the exercise.
Election observers commended the peaceful atmosphere that characterised the poll but raised concerns over procedural inconsistencies.
The First Vice-President of the Nigerian Bar Association, Sebastian Anyia, described the process as orderly and peaceful, saying voter turnout was encouraging.
Similarly, the Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian Women Trust Fund, Brenda Anugwom, lauded the resilience of female voters, many of whom remained at polling units for several hours with their children to exercise their franchise.
Yiaga Africa, however, expressed concern over discrepancies involving ballot papers, result sheets and INEC’s published list of candidates, warning that such inconsistencies could create challenges during collation and reconciliation of results.
The election observer group urged INEC to provide further clarification on the final list of participating parties and candidates and issue clear guidance to electoral officials handling result documentation.
Ahead of the poll, INEC and security agencies had repeatedly assured residents of their preparedness to deliver a peaceful, credible and transparent election, deploying personnel and restricting vehicular movement to forestall electoral violence and other offences.
The opposition All Progressives Congress (APC) in Oyo State has rejected plans by the administration of Governor Seyi Makinde to conduct another local government election on December 26, 2026, describing the proposed exercise as illegal, premature and a calculated move to retain political influence at the grassroots beyond the governor’s tenure.
The party declared that it would neither participate in the election nor remain silent over what it termed an attempt to squander public resources on a process allegedly designed to install loyalists in the 33 local government councils and 351 wards across the state.
The controversy followed the decision of the Oyo State Independent Electoral Commission (OYSIEC) to shift the date earlier fixed for January 2027 to December 26, 2026, after the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) released the timetable for the 2027 general elections.
The move has continued to generate debate among political observers, many of whom have questioned the urgency of conducting another council poll barely six months before the expiration of the tenure of the incumbent chairmen and councillors elected in the 2024 local government elections.
In a statement issued on Thursday in Ibadan by its Publicity Secretary, Olawale Sadare, the APC said it would not stop at boycotting the election but would also collaborate with “patriots and rational minds” to resist what it called an unnecessary expenditure of taxpayers’ money.
The party accused Governor Makinde of lacking commitment to local government autonomy, alleging that the administration had exercised undue control over council resources for more than seven years.
“The whole world knows that Governor Makinde does not believe in local government autonomy and, when it comes to democracy at the grassroots, he cannot be trusted for anything,” the statement said.
The APC alleged that the proposed poll was aimed at positioning individuals loyal to the governor in local councils before his exit from office on May 29, 2027, arguing that such a move would enable him to sustain political influence after leaving the Agodi Government House.
According to the opposition party, expectations among many residents are centred on ongoing efforts by the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to strengthen local government autonomy and ensure that councils enjoy direct access to their statutory allocations without interference from state governments.
The APC also linked what it described as poor development outcomes in some rural communities to the operation of the state-local government joint account system. It cited communities such as Ahoro Esiele and Yawota in Oriire Local Government Area, which have reportedly faced security challenges, as examples of areas where local government resources should have translated into visible improvements.
“It is sad that Governor Makinde appears determined to sustain a system that has left many rural communities vulnerable despite huge allocations accruing to local governments monthly,” the party said.
The opposition further dismissed the local government elections conducted in 2020 and 2024 as lacking credibility, alleging that winners emerged through predetermined outcomes rather than a transparent electoral process.
“The fraud called local government polls in 2020 and 2024 should be the last the people of Oyo State would witness. Governor Makinde and his supporters should bury any thought of staging another charade in which results are announced without genuine voting and public offices become tools for the diversion of public funds,” the statement added.
The APC consequently urged officials of OYSIEC to halt preparations for the proposed December election, warning against actions capable of undermining democratic values and public confidence in the electoral process.
As of the time of filing this report, neither the Oyo State Government nor OYSIEC had issued an official response to the allegations raised by the opposition party.
The lawmaker representing Ibarapa East/Ido Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives, Aderemi Oseni, on Saturday mobilised thousands of artisans and traders across Oyo State in support of President Bola Tinubu’s re-election bid in 2027.
Oseni said the support base of the Remi Oseni Committee of Friends (ROCOF), in collaboration with other stakeholders, was intensifying efforts to deliver one million votes for the President in the state.
Oseni, Chairman of the House Committee on Federal Road Maintenance Agency (FERMA), said artisans and traders must see themselves as critical stakeholders in President Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, stressing that the success of the administration depends largely on grassroots participation.
The federal lawmaker spoke in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, during a stakeholders’ engagement with members of the ROCOF Progressive Workers and Traders’ Associations.
In a symbolic show of political readiness, scores of traders and artisans displayed their Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs), while Oseni urged eligible Nigerians yet to register to obtain their voter cards ahead of the next general election.
He cautioned against vote-buying and vote-selling, warning that such practices threaten the future of democracy and mortgage the destiny of younger generations.
The meeting, according to Oseni, was also convened to deepen economic support for members through empowerment programmes targeted at strengthening businesses and improving livelihoods.
He announced that requests for a N250 million interest-free loan scheme for artisans and traders, construction of an artisans’ village with stable electricity supply, and health insurance support had received approval.
According to him, the loan facility will be administered through a microfinance bank under the Remi Oseni Foundation to ensure transparency, accessibility and sustainability.
He added that road and infrastructure projects across communities would remain a major priority.
Oseni, who is seeking to represent Oyo South Senatorial District in the next election cycle, also used the meeting to explain his decision to pursue a Senate seat instead of his earlier governorship ambition.
He said the move followed consultations with party leaders and supporters.
According to him, supporters deserved clarity on the political direction of the movement.
He said: “We convened this stakeholders’ meeting to review our present position. Before now, our focus was on leading Oyo State through the governorship. That was our clear objective as a movement, but today, it has become evident that God is directing us towards the Senate.
“Our people needed to understand the reasons for this decision, the position of the party and what we have accepted in the overall interest of our political future. It is not enough for leaders to take decisions. We owe our supporters explanations and must carry them along.
“We have encouraged them to embrace this opportunity in good faith and believe that greater opportunities still lie ahead.
“Many of them felt our governorship ambition would have delivered greater benefits, but we have reassured them that the government remains supportive and the future is bright.
“We have equally assured the President that our decision to pursue the Oyo South Senate seat will not affect the one million votes earlier promised him, because ROCOF structures across the 33 local government areas are fully mobilised and committed to his re-election.”
On the crisis within the All Progressives Congress (APC), Oseni said efforts were ongoing to reconcile aggrieved members, expressing confidence that outstanding differences would soon be resolved.
He described competing interests within the party as a reflection of the APC’s growing strength and political attractiveness.
Earlier, the Oyo State Coordinator of ROCOF Progressive Workers and Traders’ Associations, Alhaji Munirudeen Adegoke, described Oseni’s empowerment drive as a strategic investment capable of reducing unemployment, youth restiveness and poverty.
Adegoke said meaningful empowerment for artisans and traders must go beyond temporary palliatives.
According to him, sustainable support requires deliberate policies that guarantee access to capital, improved infrastructure and social protection.
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