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Ondo Guber Race: Hold Makinde responsible if poll is marred – Oyo APC group says
As electorate in Ondo state prepare to cast their ballots this Saturday in the scheduled gubernatorial poll in the state, a media group within the All Progressives Congress in Oyo state,Communication and Strategy Frontier (CSF), on Tuesday alerted the public that Governor Seyi Makinde should be held responsible for any development which might mar the smooth conduct of the exercise stating that he (Makinde) appeared too desperate to emerge a regional champion of his party.
The Peoples Democratic Party at the national level had appointed Gov. Makinde as the Chairman, Campaign Committee for its candidate in the said election, Mr. Eyitayo Jegede, and this, according to Oyo APC, was to enable the PDP prosecute its Ondo project with the financial resources of the Pacesetter state.
In a statement issued in Ibadan and made available to the press by its Director-General, Mr. Wale Olanrewaju, and Director of Organization, Alhaji Olawale Sadare, Oyo APC-CSF faulted the PDP and Gov. Makinde over their alleged desperate moves to truncate the desire of the people of Ondo state to have a peaceful and hitch-free election this Saturday stating that he (Makinde) lacked all it takes to lead the PDP to any electoral victory.
“Both as the controversial gubernatorial candidate of the Oyo PDP in 2019 and the governor of Oyo state since May 29, 2019, Engr. Seyi Makinde has never convinced political pundits and critical stakeholders that he has any outstanding credentials to win elections for himself or any other person as he is lacking in capacity to either sell party manifesto or convince voters to his side. Also, Gov. Makinde lacks evidence of good governance with which he could tell Ondo people that his party candidate would replicate if elected.
“In the Sunshine state today, all the PDP governor in Oyo state does is to finance dirty deals with some mushroom parties and their clownish candidates who are being bought over to support the same Mr. Jegede who was roundly defeated by Gov. Rotimi Akeredolu (SAN) in 2016. We also have it on good authority that Gov. Makinde is spearheading the plot to flood polling booths across Ondo state with heavy sums of money on Saturday as it was done in Edo last month.
“Now that the Agodi Government House has literally moved to Ondo state for the Saturday poll, one may want to ask why the Oyo state governor deems it necessary to abandon governance in his own state for an electoral contest in another state but the simple answer to this is obtainable from the fallout of the ongoing altercation between Gov. Makinde and some powerful PDP south west leaders who he seeks to dislodge with a view to positioning himself as the new leaders ahead of the 2023 general elections.
“Only yesterday, a close aide of Gov. Makinde fired another salvo to the former Governor of Ekiti state, Mr. Ayodele Fayose, in apparent continuation of the supremacy battle over who leads the PDP in the South West. Most Nigerians who were fooled by the pretentious mien of Makinde in the build-up to the election that produced him as governor and those who could not have the detailed account of his inglorious role in the last gubernatorial election in Kogi state could now see him in his true colour while he engages more gladiators in needless battle of attrition.
“We are now using this opportunity to appeal to Gov. Makinde to have a rethink on his clandestine plan to use the Ondo election to win a perceived test of confidence by trying to sponsor various activities capable of compromising INEC’s quest to deliver a free, fair and acceptable election this Saturday. We know how the same PDP candidate (Jegede) prosecuted his campaign in 2016 with minimum patronage of political thugs and we are now seeing the turn of event when Gov. Makinde is being made to influence things within the PDP and it is on this note that we are putting the whole world on notice that the governor of Oyo state should be held responsible for any security breach in Ondo before, during and after the Saturday election.” The Group submitted.
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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