Politics
Oyo 2019: Olaosebikan, Tegbe, Adelabu in close chase for APC guber ticket
THE race for the gubernatorial ticket of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in Oyo State is reaching a crescendo as the State Governor, Senator Abiola Ajimobi narrows his contemplation to three out of the over twenty aspirants jostling for the coveted seat in the party, and this is authoritative.
Highly impeccable sources close to the governor gave the names of the three top contenders as: Chief Adebayo Adelabu, Mr. Joseph Olasunkanmi Tegbe and Alhaji Kehinde Isiaka Olaosebikan, all, indigenes of Ibadan, the state capital
Chief Adebayo Adelabu (48) who recently resigned as a Deputy Governor of Central Bank of Nigeria is a 1992 Accounting graduate of of Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile Ife and became a fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria [ICAN] in 1994. Adelabu is also a fellow of Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria [FCIB]. Before his appointment in the Central Bank, Adelabu was an Executive Director in First Bank of Nigeria. He attended Lagelu Grammar School, Ibadan and hails from Kudeti, Ibadan South East Local Government in Oyo South Senatorial District, the same senatorial district with the incumbent governor.
Oyo: Anxiety Grips Other APC Aspirants Over Tegbe’s Guber Ambition
Also, Joseph Tegbe (52) studied Civil Engineering at the Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile Ife and later proceeded to Lagos Business School, Nigeria, where he obtained a MBA. Joseph Tegbe is currently a Senior Partner and Head of the Technology Advisory Services and Markets of KPMG Professional Services in Nigeria. He is also the Chairman of the National Council for Management Development [NCMD]. Tegbe went to Federal Government College, Ogbomosho. He is from Labo, Ibadan South East Local Government in Oyo South Senatorial District.
Alhaji Kehinde Isiaka Olaosebikan (56) is a 1987 Mass Communication graduate of The Polytechnic Ibadan and also holds a Master’s degree in Communication and Language Arts of the University of Ibadan. Olaosebikan disengaged from active journalism practice as the Regional Editor, North for Vanguard Newspapers in 1999 when he was called upon to serve as the Chief Press Secretary to the late Governor of Oyo State, Alhaji Lam Adesina. He held the post till 2003. Olaosebikan, the House of Representatives Candidate for the Alliance for Democracy (AD), Oluyole Federal Constituency in 2003 is a two time former Chairman of Oluyole Local Government. A professional in politics, he is currently the Chief Executive Officer of Midas Communications Limited, a public relations firm. Olaosebikan attended Ibadan City Academy, Eleta, Ibadan. He is an indigene of Onipe, Oluyole Local Government in Oyo Central Senatorial District.
The three aspirants have varied degrees of affinity with the incumbent governor of the state ranging from professional to politics. Chief Adelabu who had been visible in the programs of the state government in the last two years was appointed by Governor Ajimobi as the Chairman of Oyo State Security Trust Fund. He is holding the position till date.
Tegbe is said to be an informal adviser to the Governor on commerce and economic development. His company KPMP performed the recent staff auditing of the Broadcasting Corporation of Oyo State (BCOS) that led to the redistribution of many workers of the corporation.
Olaosbikan, a known leading edge promoter of the APC and Oyo State Government’s policies and programmes was appointed the Chairman of School Governing Board in the novel educational revolution of Governor Ajimobi. He made the first personal donation to the education program. Reputed for his robust contributions to tourism and economic development of the state, Olaosebikan is an active participant and investor in the Transformation Industrial Park, a programe at the heart of Governor Ajimobi.
Both Adelabu and Tegbe have formally made their intentions public through declaration and sinages, Olaosebikan, a seasoned politician is at the moment concentrating efforts in winning endorsements and buy in from critical stakeholders including the youths, the cause of whom he champions, always unrelenting.
Other notable aspirants in the race on the platform of APC, include Mr. Soji Eniade, the immediate Head of Service of the state, Chief Niyi Akintola (SAN), Dr. Azeez Adeduntan, the state Commissioner for Health, and his counterparts in the ministry of Lands &Housing, Finance, Isaac Omodewu, Bimbo Adekanmbi, Professor Adeolu Akande, Engineer Aderemi Olaniyan amongst others.
The immediate past governor of the state, Otunba Christopher Adebayo Akala who has been variously mentioned as an aspirant disclosed in a recent interview that he was still making consultations.
With the ward, local government and state congresses just conducted in the state, Governor Abiola Ajimobi is in absolute control of APC machinery in the the pace setter state.
Meanwhile, the consensus among the various interest groups and leaders in the state clearly emphasized the importance of the choice of the right candidate as the solution to the lingering crisis in the party.
The Core Progressives Forum (TCPF) comprising of notable progressives across the state, proffered that the pick of gubernatorial candidate for the next year’s election is critical to the final resolution of the persistent crisis.
The group, in a statement in Ibadan said that the state governor and party leadership must ensure that the party picks a candidate with profound appeal to all the warring members and possessing adequate political experience and tenacity to galvanize party members and as well draw new members to the party. He must also be a person of high integrity known for peace, progress and development of Oyo State
According to the statement signed by the State Coordinator of the group, Alhaji Akeem Oladeji, the issue at stake has gone pass the personality of the governor, hence the need to see that the candidate of the party for the gubernatorial election possesses the right credentials and qualities requisite for victory for the party.
The group noted that once the party chooses the right candidate with the full participation of the hierarchies of the party, the crisis would dissolve.
Alhaji Oladeji said the time has come for the aggrieved members to sheath their swords and stop being egoistic and personal about issues stressing that agitating for sharing of posts now or working against the interest of the party would not yield them nor the party any good.
“With the new executives put in place at all the levels in the state, as a group made up of politically experienced people, we know the time for agitations for party posts is gone. Without apportioning blame whatsoever, we want to appeal to our people to let us all move on and join the new executives in the process of strengthening our party.
“It is a clear fact that APC remains the most potent and popular party in Oyo State and Nigeria and for anybody with serious political importance that wants progress for himself, his ward, community, local government, the state and Nigeria, APC is the place to be. We should all therefore concentrate efforts towards the growth of our party in our different wards in the overall of the party and our candidates for next year general elections.
“We also know that at this crucial stage, it is binding on the our State Governor, Senator Abiola Ajimobi and the leadership of the party to do an extensive search across the state in order to give us the right candidate that would suit the present circumstances; a candidate with the most profound appeal to the majority of our members, the aggrieved members and the generality of the people of Oyo State; a candidate with adequate knowledge and sound political experience capable of galvanizing party members and as well draw credible and valuable new members to APC.
“With the right candidate, we are certain that all the members of the Unity Forum and others grumbling within the mainstream will all return and be pleased with the leadership and the party. What every right thinking party man is looking for is continued success of the party at the polls and continuity of APC at all levels of government” Alhaji Oladeji added.
Already, a number of the warring Unity Group members are retracing their steps to the party while some are planning to exit and a few others undecided. But basically, most of their leaders particularly those with political appointments have decided to stay put in APC.
The Oyo State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has fiercely opposed Governor Seyi Makinde’s move to secure a fresh loan of N200 billion, describing it as reckless and detrimental to the state’s financial future. The party called on concerned Nigerians to intervene and prevail upon the governor to abandon the borrowing plan.
According to the party, it said sources had revealed that Governor Makinde sought and secured approval for the loan on Tuesday, allegedly through the Speaker of the State House of Assembly, Hon. Debo Ogundoyin, and a few select lawmakers. It added that the governor’s request, contained in a letter dated 13th March 2025, cited the need to refinance an existing loan from a commercial bank.
In a statement issued on Tuesday and made available to journalists in Ibadan, Oyo APC’s Publicity Secretary, Olawale Sadare, condemned the move, insisting that the governor’s borrowing spree was driving the state into a financial mess.
“Another distressing development has emerged from the Oyo State House of Assembly today. The Speaker and a handful of his loyalists have secretly approved a fraudulent loan request from the governor without the knowledge of most of their colleagues. This decision was only made public through a post-plenary document released by the Clerk of the House,” the statement read.
Sadare decried the mounting debt profile of Oyo State under Makinde, alleging that the governor had already incurred over N300 billion in loans over the last six years. He questioned why, despite such heavy borrowing, the state had little to show in terms of infrastructural development, economic growth, and agricultural advancement.
“If the previous loans had been judiciously used to improve infrastructure, build the economy, and ensure food security through a sustainable agricultural revolution, there would be no need for concern. Unfortunately, the present PDP administration has demonstrated a lack of accountability and is determined to mortgage the future of Oyo State,” he said.
The APC spokesman further questioned the rationale behind the fresh loan request, citing the substantial revenue inflows into the state’s coffers.
“For the record, Governor Makinde receives an average of N11 billion in federal allocation and another N11 billion on behalf of the 33 local government councils. In addition, the state generates no less than N3 billion in Internally Generated Revenue, bringing the total monthly revenue to at least N25 billion. The critical question now is: what exactly is he doing with this massive income, and why does Oyo still need another huge loan?”
Sadare accused the governor of failing to prioritise essential needs despite the available funds, lamenting that workers in state-owned tertiary institutions were not being paid a living wage, while key sectors such as emergency response, agriculture, and education remained neglected.
“Oyo State cannot even afford five fully functional fire trucks to tackle emergencies. Farmers lack access to modern equipment, while the state’s public schools are deteriorating rapidly. Yet, Governor Makinde, who has failed to complete an ordinary bus terminal after allegedly spending N20 billion, has now set his sights on an airport upgrade project as another means to siphon public funds,” he added.
The APC spokesman also took a swipe at Speaker Ogundoyin, accusing him of acting as a rubber stamp for the governor’s financial dealings.
“The manner in which this N200 billion loan was hurriedly approved exposes the Speaker as a willing accomplice in Makinde’s financial recklessness. However, justice will eventually prevail, and no one involved in this dubious scheme will escape accountability,” Sadare warned.
As of the time of filing this report, efforts to get a reaction from the Oyo State government and the Speaker of the House of Assembly were unsuccessful.
A former governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Lagos, Abdul-Azeez Adediran, popularly known as Jandor, has officially rejoined the All Progressives Congress (APC).
Jandor announced his return to the ruling party at a press conference in Lagos on Monday, approximately two weeks after resigning from the PDP.
In his address, he explained his decision, stating that APC prioritises electoral victory regardless of the candidate.
“We have decided to return to the All Progressives Congress, APC,” he declared.
Anticipating criticism over his political move, he referenced a Yoruba proverb, saying:
“Before you are quick to remind me of the reasons why I dumped APC, I want to say that there is a Yoruba adage that says, if a woman has not tried two husbands, she would not know which one is better.”
Jandor had previously left the PDP on 3rd March 2025, citing what he described as anti-party activities by some leaders in Lagos State.
“We were waiting to see if the party at the national level, governed by its constitution, would address these anti-party activities. Instead of sanctions, the same individual was appointed Vice Chairman of the Disciplinary Committee,” he said at the time.
Following his resignation from the PDP, Jandor met with several political figures, including President Bola Tinubu and former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, as well as other key stakeholders in Nigeria’s political landscape.
Jandor’s political journey began with the APC, where he led the Lagos4Lagos Movement before defecting in 2022. He joined the PDP ahead of the 2023 governorship election and became the party’s flagbearer in Lagos, but lost to APC’s Babajide Sanwo-Olu.
Former Governor of Kaduna State, Nasir El-Rufai, has dismissed the possibility of a political merger ahead of the 2027 general election, instead urging former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, ex-Labour Party presidential candidate Peter Obi, and other opposition figures to join the Social Democratic Party (SDP).
El-Rufai’s call came in the wake of his resignation from the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) on 10 March, citing a misalignment of values with the party.
In a recent interview with BBC Hausa, the former governor appealed to opposition leaders to unite under the SDP banner to challenge President Bola Tinubu’s administration in the next election.
“My wishes and prayers are that Atiku Abubakar, Peter Obi, Rotimi Amaechi, Rauf Aregbesola, and all opposition leaders join SDP—not to form a merger or register a new party, but to work together towards 2027,” he said.
El-Rufai also expressed his disappointment in the current administration, stating that despite initial confidence in Tinubu’s leadership, he had failed to meet expectations.
“What pains me is that the government we supported and believed in would perform well because we saw what Tinubu achieved in Lagos despite his challenges,” he remarked. “We all know about his issues in Chicago, but we thought if he could replicate his work in Lagos at the national level, we should support him. However, he has failed.”
Meanwhile, the Presidency has dismissed speculation surrounding the 2027 elections, maintaining that President Tinubu is focused on economic reforms and national development.
In a statement on Friday via X (formerly Twitter), Tinubu’s Special Adviser on Media and Public Communications, Bayo Onanuga, stated:
“President Tinubu is not worried about the next election. He is concerned about the shared prosperity he can bring to Nigerians. He is focused on ensuring that, by the end of his first term, he can look back and say, ‘I have impacted the lives of Nigerians and turned this economy around.’”
Onanuga also highlighted the administration’s achievements, including improved foreign reserves, reduced inflation, a growing trade surplus, and increased foreign investments.
Addressing speculation about his own presidential ambition in 2027, El-Rufai said his candidacy would depend on the party and the will of the people.
“It is not for me to decide; it is the party and the people that will decide. Even when I was contesting for governor, it was the people who met and convinced (Muhammadu) Buhari, and he called me to run,” he said.
As political alignments continue to take shape ahead of 2027, El-Rufai’s defection and his call for opposition unity signal growing tensions within Nigeria’s political landscape.
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