Politics

Oyo 2019: Olaosebikan, Tegbe, Adelabu in close chase for APC guber ticket

Published

8 years ago

June 23, 2018

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.

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Politics

2027: Omidiji Donates Bus to Strengthen Oyo APC Mobilisation

Published

1 day ago

October 23, 2026

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An All Progressives Congress chieftain in Oyo State, Hon. Ponmile Omidiji, has donated a brand-new bus to Ponmile Progressive Mobilization to strengthen the group’s activities ahead of the 2027 general elections.

Omidiji, who is the chairman of Ponmile Progressive Movement and Chief Executive Officer of Agbele Sporting Club, said the vehicle would facilitate members’ movement and help the group extend its grassroots mobilisation across the state.

Ponmile Progressive Mobilization operates as a subsidiary of Ponmile Progressive Movement under the motto, “Mobilizing for All Progressives Congress.”

The organisation said the bus would improve its capacity to reach communities, coordinate members and promote awareness of the APC’s programmes and agenda ahead of the 2027 polls.

Omidiji is a former National Financial Secretary of the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) and a former supervisor at the local government level during the administration of the late Governor Abiola Ajimobi.

He also served as Deputy Youth Leader of the Presidential and Governorship Campaign Council during the 2023 election cycle.

The organisation said the vehicle would be deployed for outreach and other activities across Oyo State as preparations for the next general elections gather momentum.

Politics

Alli to Makinde: Your Presidential Bid Dead on Arrival

Published

2 days ago

October 22, 2026

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Oyo senator’s campaign reacts to reported APM South-South vote of no confidence

The Senator Sharafadeen Alli Campaign Organisation has said the reported rejection of Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde by leaders of the Allied People’s Movement (APM) in the South-South has reinforced its opposition to his presidential ambition ahead of the 2027 general elections.

The organisation described the development as a vindication of its position that Makinde’s presidential bid lacked the political foundation to succeed, alleging that the governor was using the ambition to negotiate a soft landing ahead of the next general elections.

The campaign organisation’s Director of Media and Publicity, Bisi Oladele, stated this in a statement on Wednesday, following a newspaper advertorial in which APM leaders in the South-South reportedly passed a vote of no confidence in the governor.

The APM leaders were quoted as accusing Makinde of lacking the substance, political will and focus to lead the party, while questioning his credibility and relationship with party members.

Reacting, Alli’s campaign organisation alleged that Makinde was pursuing a presidential ambition he knew would not succeed, claiming that his real objective was to weaken President Bola Tinubu’s political support in the South-West.

“The good news is that he will not only lose to President Tinubu in Oyo State, his lackey, Hon. Bimbo Adekanmbi, whom he is desperate to install for an undemocratic third term, will be flatly defeated by Senator Sharafadeen Alli,” the statement said.

The organisation expressed confidence that Alli’s Oyo AHEAD agenda would accelerate development in the state, insisting that the senator offered a different political direction.

It also claimed that Makinde’s political camp was losing ground, citing the reported resignations of aides and the departure of some party leaders as signs of growing dissatisfaction within his camp.

The campaign organisation argued that the reported criticism from APM stakeholders in the South-South reflected concerns about Makinde’s relationship with party structures and political associates.

“If a man cannot manage his party in his own state, how can he manage Nigeria?” an APM leader from the South-South was quoted as asking during a meeting on Tuesday.

The statement further accused Makinde of disregarding established party structures and abandoning some of those who supported his emergence as governor in 2019 and his re-election in 2023.

It also pointed to what it described as repeated resignations from the governor’s cabinet in recent weeks, arguing that the developments raised questions about the state of his political support.

The organisation maintained that the reported position of the South-South APM leaders reinforced its criticism of Makinde’s presidential ambition, which it again described as “dead on arrival”.

Politics

N100bn loan: Makinde out to bankrupt Oyo, Alli campaign organisation alleges

Published

2 days ago

October 22, 2026

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The Senator Sharafadeen Alli Campaign Organisation has accused Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, of putting the state’s financial future at risk with a proposed N100bn loan, alleging that the move is driven by political interests ahead of the 2027 elections.

The organisation, in a statement by its Director of Media and Publicity, Bisi Oladele, condemned the proposed borrowing and criticised the Oyo State House of Assembly for approving the loan, warning that it could leave the incoming administration with a heavier debt burden.

It questioned the economic justification for taking on another major financial obligation with Makinde’s tenure expected to end in May 2027.

The campaign organisation alleged that the proposed loan had more to do with the governor’s political ambitions and succession plans than with the development of the state.

“The proposed borrowing was not driven by any genuine developmental consideration but by a desperate political agenda to finance the 2027 elections,” the statement said.

The organisation, however, did not provide evidence to substantiate its allegation that the loan was intended to fund election-related activities.

It also faulted the state House of Assembly for approving the borrowing, accusing lawmakers of failing to subject the proposal to adequate scrutiny in the interest of the people.

According to the organisation, the legislature has a responsibility to protect the state’s finances rather than approve borrowing requests without thoroughly examining their implications.

“Approval by the legislature does not automatically confer economic wisdom, transparency or public interest on a borrowing decision,” it said.

The campaign organisation further criticised Makinde’s reported presidential ambition, alleging that the governor was more concerned about his political future and preferred successor than the financial wellbeing of the state.

It insisted that no amount of borrowing could guarantee victory for the governor’s preferred candidate in the 2027 governorship election, maintaining that the people of Oyo State would decide their next governor at the polls.

The organisation warned against using the state’s borrowing powers and creditworthiness to advance partisan political interests, stressing that the consequences of excessive debt could outlast the administration that incurred it.

It also said the incoming administration could subject questionable financial commitments to lawful scrutiny, adding that legislative approval would not shield any established wrongdoing from accountability.

The campaign organisation urged Makinde to reconsider the proposed loan and ensure that he handed over a financially viable state when his tenure ends in May 2027.

“He cannot borrow his way into the presidency, neither can he borrow his preferred candidate into the Government House in Agodi,” the statement said.

It warned that although the governor’s tenure would end, the burden of any debt incurred by his administration could remain with the people for years.