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.
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‎The federal lawmaker spoke in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, during a stakeholders’ engagement with members of the ROCOF Progressive Workers and Traders’ Associations.
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‎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.
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‎He cautioned against vote-buying and vote-selling, warning that such practices threaten the future of democracy and mortgage the destiny of younger generations.
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‎The meeting, according to Oseni, was also convened to deepen economic support for members through empowerment programmes targeted at strengthening businesses and improving livelihoods.
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‎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.
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‎According to him, the loan facility will be administered through a microfinance bank under the Remi Oseni Foundation to ensure transparency, accessibility and sustainability.
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‎He added that road and infrastructure projects across communities would remain a major priority.
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‎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.
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‎He said the move followed consultations with party leaders and supporters.
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‎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.
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‎“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.
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‎“We have encouraged them to embrace this opportunity in good faith and believe that greater opportunities still lie ahead.
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‎“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.
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‎“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.”
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‎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.
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‎He described competing interests within the party as a reflection of the APC’s growing strength and political attractiveness.
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‎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.

The Concerned Youths of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ido Local Government Area of  Oyo State, have expressed strong opposition to what they described as alleged moves to replace or tamper with the party’s duly elected House of Assembly candidate, Hon. Abass Animasahun, urging leaders to respect the outcome of the primary election.

In a statement released on Friday by the group immediately after its meeting, the youths commended party leaders, elders, and stakeholders for their commitment, sacrifices, and contributions to the growth and stability of the APC in Ido Local Government, noting that their leadership has helped sustain unity within the party.

They also praised the conduct of the party’s House of Assembly primary election, which produced Hon. Abass Animasahun as candidate, describing the process as transparent, credible, and reflective of the true will of party members and delegates.

According to them, the outcome of the primary election represents the collective decision of party faithful and should be protected in the interest of internal democracy and fairness.

“The people have spoken through a legitimate process,” the statement said. “The mandate freely given by party members  must be respected and protected, as democracy can only thrive when the will of the people is upheld.”

The youths warned that any attempt to substitute or alter the outcome of the primary election could create unnecessary tension and dissatisfaction within the party structure in Ido Local Government Area.

They noted that such interference could also weaken party unity and discourage loyal members who participated in the electoral process in good faith.

“It is important to state clearly that any attempt to change or manipulate the mandate after a legitimate primary election may create avoidable crisis and division among party faithful,” the group warned.

Reaffirming their loyalty to the APC, the youths called on party leaders at all levels to stand firmly in defence of the primary election outcome and ensure that justice, fairness, and internal democracy are upheld.

They, however urged unity within the party, stressing that Ido Local Government must continue on a path of progress and stability, while warning against any action capable of reversing the gains already achieved.

Former Ogun Central Senator and daughter of former President Olusegun Obasanjo, Senator Iyabo Obasanjo, has resigned her membership of the All Progressives Congress (APC), saying repeated rejection, lack of consultation and what she described as disrespect from the party leadership in Ogun State forced her decision.

Obasanjo, a former Commissioner for Health in Ogun State, announced her resignation in a letter dated May 31 and addressed to the Ogun State Chairman of the APC, Chief Yemi Sanusi..

A copy of the letter was made available to journalists in Abeokuta, the state capital.

The former lawmaker, who recently sought the APC governorship ticket ahead of the 2027 election, expressed disappointment over the process that produced Senator Solomon Adeola, popularly known as Yayi, as the party’s consensus candidate.

She said while she had willingly agreed to support any candidate that emerged through a consensus arrangement, she was neither consulted nor carried along before Adeola was unveiled.

According to her, some of her supporters were also prevented from entering the venue of the unveiling and allegedly intimidated.

Still, Obasanjo said she chose to accept the outcome for the sake of party unity and publicly congratulated Adeola on the night he emerged.

She revealed that the senator later requested a meeting with her supporters, during which three demands were presented to him.

According to her, Adeola promised to get back to the group within one week, but over two months later, no response had come.

For Obasanjo, the silence reflected a deeper pattern of disregard.

“I agreed to support whichever candidate emerged through a consensus process, but I was not consulted before Senator Adeola was presented as the consensus candidate,” she said.

“Some of my supporters were denied access to the venue and intimidated. Nevertheless, I accepted the outcome in the interest of party unity and publicly congratulated Senator Adeola that same night.

“Following his emergence, Senator Adeola requested a meeting with my supporters. During that meeting, three requests were made and he promised to respond within one week. More than two months later, no response has been received.

“The treatment I have received since then has reflected a consistent pattern of rejection and disrespect. When disrespect is the only dish served, then one should leave the table. I am therefore leaving the APC table where I am not welcomed.”

Despite her grievances, Obasanjo expressed gratitude to President Bola Tinubu, Ogun APC Chairman Chief Sanusi and leaders of the Ogun Central Senatorial District for the support and courtesy she enjoyed while in the party.
She specifically appreciated the senatorial leadership led by Chief Soremi.

Obasanjo only returned to active partisan politics earlier this year after registering with the APC in Ward 11, Ibogun, Ifo Local Government Area of Ogun State.

She later declared interest in contesting the Ogun governorship election on the platform of the party.