Politics
‘Ilaka is a serial loser, has no political value’ – Abioye berates Oyo’s ex CoS
Candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for Ogo Oluwa/Surulere Federal Constituency in the 2019 general elections, Hon. Abioye Mathew Adegboyega has faulted the claim by the immediate past Chief of Staff to Oyo State Governor, Chief Luqman Oyebisi Ilaka that he lost his senatorial election to Senator Teslim Folarin by virtue of the influence of APC candidates in Ogo Oluwa/Surulere and Egbeda/Ona Ara Federal constituencies that pushed up the votes for the winner of the said Senatorial election.
Abioye, punctured the claim in his reaction to the statement made by Chief Ilaka while featuring on Fresh FM political circuit programme yesterday on his preparation to re-contest for the Oyo Central Senatorial election in 2023.
The PDP chieftain noted that what Ilaka was trying to prove was that candidates for the PDP in the said two federal constituencies were not popular and that their unpopularity was what affected his own election.
Abioye, in a statement made available to Mega Icon Magazine on Sunday said contrary to his assertion on the said radio programme, the ex-Chief of Staff was the architect of his own failure because he was never on ground to meet the electorates and canvass for their votes during the campaigns.
According to him, “I want to challenge Ilaka to come out and tell the public how many times he visited the Ogo Oluwa/Surulere Federal Constituency to meet our people and canvass them to give him their votes. Similarly, he should come out and tell the people the amount he spent before and during the said election.
“Ilaka was never on ground to canvass the people’s vote throughout the electioneering campaign at all. Now he was trying to attribute his failure to the popularity of candidates of opposition party but I am not surprised that he’s doing so. He was doing so because of the fact that they are already in talk with Hon. Dokun Odebunmi (Bunvic) to woo him to join the PDP with the aim that if Bunvic joins the PDP, it will help him to realize his ambition come 2023.
“But, I’m absolutely not perturbed by his permutation and what he said. Ilaka is a serial failure. He has tried three times in 2011, 2015 and 2019 and has failed. If you present yourself for an election first, second and third time and lost, what new things do you intend to bring?
“He is somebody who has no leadership quality and it is even worse for him now because the governor had given him platform by making him his Chief of Staff, an opportunity which he should have used to demonstrate his administrative capability and efficiency but he has failed. He has never added any political value to the people in the Senatorial district he is aspiring to represent”, the ex-lawmaker added.
On why he lost his own House of Representatives election, Hon. Abioye disclosed that the people in his constituency gave him a protest vote to express their displeasure over his support for Engr Seyi Makinde against their kinsman, Senator Ayo Adeseun during the party gubernatorial primary election between the duo in 2018.
“I lost the election because my people accused me of abandoning my own kinsman, Senator Ayo Adeseun for somebody they termed as a stranger, Engr Seyi Makinde, during the PDP gubernatorial election which was held at Liberty stadium in 2018. They were not happy that I gave all the 129 delegates from my federal constituency to Engr Makinde but they didn’t understand the reason why I supported him then.
“It is very disheartening that all the people that worked against the PDP in 2019 are now the friends of the present administration. They are the ones that are reaping bountifully where they did not sow at the expense of we that laboured for it.
“The fact that I was not compensated by the government we laboured for is now a blessing for me because it has made me more wiser and more experienced. I am an active politician, grassroot mobilizer with a track record and experience having served as a two term lawmaker in the Oyo State House of Assembly. Can such experience be ruled out”, the statement continued.
Leaders and stakeholders of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Oyo South Senatorial District have endorsed a member of the House of Representatives, Aderemi Oseni, as their consensus candidate for the 2027 senatorial election.
The endorsement was announced on Wednesday at a stakeholders’ meeting held at Alice Hall, Ibadan, with party leaders, stakeholders, local government chairmen and state executive members from the nine local government areas in attendance.
The councils represented at the meeting are Ibadan North, Ibadan North-East, Ibadan North-West, Ibadan South-East, Ibadan South-West, Ibarapa Central, Ibarapa East, Ibarapa North and Ido.
The stakeholders expressed satisfaction with Oseni’s aspiration, describing it as timely, credible and anchored on tested leadership and grassroots appeal.
Those present at the meeting included Chief Timothy Jolaoso (Ibarapa East); Alhaji Kamorudeen Ajisafe (Ido); Chief Abdulrauf Bello (Ido); Alhaji Muili Oluokun (Ibadan North-West); Alhaji Mufutau Adisa (Ibadan South-East); Alhaji Bello Oladeji (Ibadan North); Prince Gbade Lana (Ibadan North-East); Engr. Olatunji (Ibadan South-West); Comrade Wale Gbadamosi (Ibarapa North); and Alhaja Moji Adetona (Ibarapa Central).
Other party officials in attendance were the senatorial chairman, Alhaji Mojeed Adebayo; the secretary, Fatai Adesina; Welfare Officer, Sunday Babalola; Deputy Women Leader, Alhaja Fatimah Hassan; Auditor, Alhaja Tinu Adigun; Youth Leader, Lekan Adebayo; Ex-Officio member, Kola Amoo; Treasurer, Lateef Ajiboye; and Senatorial Youth Leader, Olalekan Olowe.
A chieftain of the party in Ibadan North Local Government, Hon. Shina Alabi, moved the motion for the lawmaker’s endorsement, which was seconded and unanimously adopted by the stakeholders.
Alabi said Oseni’s decision to abide by President Bola Tinubu’s directive to step down his governorship ambition for the senatorial race underscored his loyalty and commitment to party unity.
He said, “Hon. Oseni has demonstrated uncommon commitment to the welfare of the people. His leadership style is inclusive, responsive and development-driven. We are convinced that his emergence as the APC candidate for Oyo South Senatorial District will strengthen the party’s chances and guarantee effective representation.”
He also urged party members to remain united and rally behind credible aspirants with proven capacity and electoral value.
In his remarks, Hon. Aderemi Oseni said his decision to pursue the senatorial seat followed the presidential directives, noting that he accepted the decision in the interest of party cohesion, progress and stability. He recalled that he had earlier prepared for the Oyo South senatorial race in the 2023 general elections, having already purchased the nomination and expression of interest forms as part of an arrangement reached, before stepping down following appeals by party leaders.
The lawmaker, who chairs the House Committee on the Federal Roads Maintenance Agency (FERMA), said the party must close ranks to reclaim political dominance in the senatorial district.
According to him, “There is a huge task ahead, especially with several House of Representatives seats in the district currently held by the opposition. We must work together, mobilise effectively and secure victory for our party and leader, President Bola Tinubu”.
Oseni thanked party leaders and stakeholders for the confidence reposed in him and assured them of his commitment to advancing the interests of Oyo South Senatorial District.
The meeting also had representatives from all nine local government areas, with about 10 leaders from each council in attendance.
The lawmaker representing Akinyele/Lagelu Federal Constituency of Oyo State, Olafisoye Akinmoyede, has denied allegations of violence at the All Progressives Congress (APC) state secretariat, describing claims that he assaulted a party member as false and politically motivated.
An online platform, IMPARTNEWSNETWORK, had alleged that Akinmoyede assaulted one Gafar Oyebade during a meeting convened by the state chairman of the party, Alake Adeyemo, to resolve issues surrounding the executive list of the APC in Lagelu Local Government Area.
However, Akinmoyede, in a statement on Tuesday, said the meeting was peaceful and attended by key members of the state executive, including the chairman, deputy chairman, and secretary, who witnessed the proceedings.
He clarified that contrary to Oyebade’s claim of being the party secretary, the official list presented by the state leadership recognised him as the Public Relations Officer.
According to the lawmaker, following the clarification, the state executive directed the Lagelu Local Government chairman, Fatai Awoyoola, to proceed with the swearing-in of other party officials.
Akinmoyede also faulted attempts to link the incident with the 2019 killing of a former federal lawmaker, noting that a court of competent jurisdiction had already ruled on the matter.
He said, “In Suit No. I/70c/2019, delivered by Justice Mufutau Adegbola on January 23, 2020, all those accused were discharged and acquitted.”
The lawmaker expressed concern over what he described as a deliberate attempt to mislead the public, alleging that Oyebade, a public school teacher under the Oyo State Government, should not be involved in partisan politics.
He described the allegation as a “recycled script” aimed at tarnishing his image ahead of political activities, urging constituents to remain calm.
Akinmoyede also called on journalists to verify information before publication and urged security agencies to take action against individuals who file false reports.
“These tactics surface every election cycle. Those behind them should learn to accept the outcomes of political processes. They failed before and will fail again. Power comes from God,” he added.
The lawmaker representing Akinyele/Lagelu Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives, Hon. Olafisoye Akinmoyede, has denied allegations of assault levelled against him by a member of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Lagelu Local Government Area, Mr. Gafar Oyebade.
Akinmoyede described the allegation as “false” and “a lie taken too far,” insisting that no physical altercation occurred.
The denial was contained in a statement issued on Monday by his Legislative Aide, Dr. Isiaq Akintunde.
Oyebade had alleged that he was hospitalised following a confrontation during a meeting held at the office of the state party chairman in Oke-Ado, Ibadan, convened to resolve a leadership dispute in the local government.
But the federal lawmaker maintained that the meeting was peaceful and attended by top party officials.
“The meeting was convened to clarify Mr. Oyebade’s position within the local executive, and it was attended by the State Party Chairman, his deputy, the secretary, the publicity secretary, and other key state executives, all of whom witnessed the peaceful proceedings,” the statement read.
He added that contrary to Oyebade’s claim of being the party secretary, the official list presented by the Lagelu Local Government Party Chairman, Hon. Fatai Awoyoola, identified him as the Public Relations Officer.
According to Akinmoyede, the state executive thereafter directed Awoyoola to proceed with the swearing-in of the remaining members of the local government executive.
The lawmaker accused Oyebade of fabricating the allegation to advance political interests.
“I wonder why Mr. Gafar Oyebade, a secondary school teacher, would claim he was assaulted in the presence of the State Executive. This is an attempt to justify money allegedly collected from an aspirant to tarnish my image,” he said.
Akinmoyede further claimed that Oyebade was seen walking freely after the meeting and was not hospitalised as alleged.
He also raised concerns over Oyebade’s involvement in partisan politics, noting that civil servants are restricted from active participation in political activities.
The lawmaker called on security agencies and the media to investigate the incident at the party’s Oke-Ado office to ascertain the veracity of the claims.
Efforts to reach Oyebade for comments were unsuccessful as of the time of filing this report.
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