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.
The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Oyo State has called on Governor Seyi Makinde to resign immediately, alleging that his recent remarks on state security exposed incompetence and an inability to lead.
Governor Makinde, speaking during his acceptance speech as the Presidential candidate of the Allied Peoples Movement (APM) in Ibadan on Saturday, lamented that he could do little to rescue abducted school children and residents in Oriire Local Government Area due to all security structures being under federal control.
Reacting, APC State Publicity Secretary, Olawale Sadare, described the governor’s comments as “the height of cluelessness, insincerity, and criminal ineptitude,” warning that such disclosures reflect a dangerous trend among parochial leaders.
Sadare said, “Engr. Seyi Makinde could not find any fault in the nation’s Constitution, yet he swore twice to protect lives and properties of Oyo people. He has long enjoyed the powers of his office, controlling resources and people without challenge, but now faces a serious test, exposing incompetence, cluelessness, and ego.”
He added, “Instead of addressing security challenges, Makinde is exploiting the situation to push a mirage he calls a presidential ambition in 2027. His insensitive comments once again reveal hypocrisy. It is time he quit the office of the governor, having admitted he lacks the capacity to secure the state.”
The APC also recalled that previous governors, including Alhaji Lam Adesina, Senator Rashidi Ladoja, Chief Adebayo Alao-Akala, and the late Sen. Abiola Ajimobi, operated under the same constitutional provisions without similar security failures. Sadare particularly praised Ajimobi for establishing a Security Trust Fund to ensure funding and stakeholder involvement in security, in contrast to the current administration.
“Makinde’s presidential ambition is dead on arrival. Our concern is the continued loss, deprivation, and mismanagement the people of Oyo may suffer in the remaining year of his tenure. The state deserves a team player, a sincere and humble governor — qualities Makinde has failed to demonstrate in seven years. He should apologise and step down,” Sadare concluded.
Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, on Saturday emerged as the presidential candidate of the Allied Peoples Movement (APM) for the 2027 general election following the conclusion of the party’s presidential nomination process.
Makinde emerged through consensus and affirmation by party delegates during the exercise, in what party leaders described as a demonstration of unity and confidence in his leadership ahead of the next general elections.
The governor was presented with his Certificate of Return by the National Chairman of the APM, Alhaji Yusuf Dantali, during a ceremony held in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, amid cheers from party faithful, delegates and supporters drawn from different parts of the country.
Speaking during the presentation, Dantali said Makinde possesses the leadership qualities, administrative experience and vision required to steer the country towards sustainable growth and national development.
He urged party members across the federation to close ranks and intensify grassroots mobilisation to ensure victory for the party in the 2027 presidential election.
The APM national chairman maintained that the party remained committed to presenting Nigerians with what he described as a credible alternative capable of addressing the country’s economic, security and governance challenges.
According to him, the emergence of Makinde as the party’s flag bearer marked the beginning of a new political movement aimed at restoring hope and strengthening democratic governance in the country.
In his acceptance speech, Governor Makinde expressed appreciation to the leadership of the party and delegates for the confidence reposed in him, pledging to work with stakeholders across political, ethnic and religious divides to advance the party’s vision for national transformation.
The governor assured party supporters of his commitment to inclusive leadership, promising to prioritise policies that would improve economic prosperity, strengthen institutions and enhance the welfare of Nigerians if elected.
Five key members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Oyo State have been appointed to the party’s campaign committee for the 2026 governorship re-election of Governor Abiodun Oyebanji in Ekiti State.
The Oyo APC leaders on the list include the party’s governorship candidate, Sharafadeen Abiodun Alli, former Senate leader Teslim Folarin, Minister of Youth and Sports Development, Sunday Dare, Zacch Adedeji, and Remi Oseni.
The list, signed by the party’s National Secretary, Sen. Ajibola Basiru, reflects the APC’s strategy of deploying experienced political figures with strong grassroots networks to ensure a successful re-election campaign in Ekiti.
“These appointments recognise their political experience and commitment to advancing the party’s agenda,” the source within the party said.
The APC committee is expected to coordinate campaign activities, voter engagement, and messaging, positioning the party for a strong showing in the 2026 governorship election.
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