Politics
Oyo: Makinde’s Automatic Tickets Ignite Crisis, Fuel Fierce Survival Struggle
The embattled Governor Seyi Makinde-led Oyo State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has plunged into a deepening crisis following a controversial declaration granting automatic tickets to serving lawmakers—a move that has unsettled party leaders, disrupted political alignments, and triggered a scramble for alternative positions ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The decision, announced at a pivotal stakeholders’ meeting convened by the governor at the government secretariat in Ibadan weeks ago, was expected to provide clarity on the party’s internal challenges, particularly its festering supremacy battle with the faction aligned to the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, but instead opened a new fault line within the party.
Multiple sources present at the meeting told Mega Icon Magazine that expectations were high that Governor Makinde would reassure party leaders on efforts to stabilise the PDP and strengthen its position ahead of the next electoral cycle, but his pronouncement endorsing incumbents at both the state and National Assembly levels came as a shock, leaving many stakeholders disillusioned.
A senior party figure, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said the governor’s position had “upturned existing political calculations across the state,” noting that several aspirants who had invested heavily in their ambitions were abruptly shut out of the race. “What was expected to be a reconciliatory and strategic meeting ended up creating fresh tension. Many leaders left more uncertain than they arrived,” the source said.
The immediate effect of the declaration has been a wave of political recalibrations across key constituencies, including Ibadan South East/North East Federal Constituency, where aspirants who had been preparing for the House of Representatives contest have now been forced to abandon their plans.
Among those affected is a former council boss and lawmaker, Hon. Akeem Ademola Ige, who had stepped down during the 2023 elections and was widely tipped to re-contest, but has now reportedly shifted his focus to the Oyo South Senatorial District, a development party insiders linked directly to the closure of opportunities created by the automatic ticket arrangement. A similar trend is unfolding in Ibadan North, where a former member of the House of Representatives, Hon. Dada Awoleye, has also joined the growing list of aspirants for the senatorial seat, while former lawmaker, Gbede Aderemi Waheed and the Chairman of Ibadan North West Local Government, Hon. Rahmon Adepoju, among others have equally indicated interest, further intensifying competition in the senatorial district.
Sources within the party described the development as a “forced convergence,” explaining that the automatic tickets granted to incumbents had effectively blocked access to other elective positions, thereby pushing displaced aspirants into the same senatorial and house of representatives’ races in what one insider termed “a survival-driven political migration.”
Amid the growing discontent, influential stakeholders within the PDP are said to be insisting on a strategic shift that prioritises electoral strength over incumbency, warning that the party risks losing ground to the All Progressives Congress (APC) and other political parties if it fails to present candidates with strong grassroots appeal and financial capacity.
The concern, it was gathered, is heightened by speculations that the APC may field formidable candidates across key positions, including Hon. Aderemi Oseni, while the incumbent senator, Sarafadeen Alli, is being linked with a possible governorship ambition, a scenario PDP leaders fear could tilt the balance of power if not effectively countered.
“This is about winning elections, not rewarding loyalty blindly,” a party chieftain said. “The APC and other parties are preparing, and we must be realistic enough to present candidates who can match them in influence, popularity, structure, and resources.”
Beyond electoral strategy, stakeholders have also raised concerns over what they described as the marginalisation of loyal party members who stood by the PDP during its turbulent moments, arguing that such individuals deserved recognition rather than exclusion under the current arrangement.
According to another source, resentment is growing among party faithful who believe that the majority of the incumbents being favoured with automatic tickets have not demonstrated exceptional performance or contributed significantly to party development, insisting that lawmakers who have completed two terms should either seek higher offices or allow fresh eminently qualified contenders to emerge.
Further fuelling uncertainty is the governor’s reported position that while he would remain in the PDP, aspirants interested in contesting elections might have to pursue their ambitions on another political platform, with assurances of his total support, a stance that has intensified speculations about possible realignments ahead of the polls.
The speculation gained traction following Makinde’s recent engagement with leaders of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), including former Senate President David Mark and former Osun State Governor Rauf Aregbesola, although details of the meeting remain unclear.
Party insiders said the absence of a clear directive from the governor on the outcome of the engagement has heightened anxiety within the PDP, especially as the timeline for party primaries draws closer and aspirants remain uncertain about the platform on which they may eventually pursue their political ambitions.
At the grassroots level, resistance to the automatic ticket policy is said to be intensifying, with several party members across local governments rejecting the move on the grounds of poor performance by some incumbents and their alleged disconnect from party structures and constituents.
A ward leader who spoke with our correspondent warned that enforcing the decision without a broad consensus could have serious electoral consequences, noting that “imposition has never produced victory in a competitive political environment.”
Despite the growing tension, Governor Makinde has yet to publicly address the concerns or provide a definitive roadmap for the party’s direction, even as his recent engagements have done little to calm the situation among the stakeholders.
With the 2027 general elections approaching and internal pressures mounting, the party now faces a critical test of cohesion and strategic clarity, as stakeholders await the governor’s next move in what many believe could ultimately determine their electoral fortunes in Oyo State.
(c) Mega Icon Magazine
Ahead of the 2027 general elections, the national leadership of the All Progressives Congress (APC) on Tuesday held a high-level strategic meeting with the Oyo State chapter of the party as part of efforts to reposition the APC for victory and prevent internal crisis ahead of the polls.
The development was first scooped by OYOINSIGHT.COM which quoted multiple party sources familiar with the closed-door deliberations.
Sources disclosed that the meeting, held in Abuja, focused largely on a consensus arrangement being considered by stakeholders of the party in Oyo State, in line with political templates reportedly being adopted in Lagos and Ogun states ahead of the next electoral cycle.
Party insiders said the move was aimed at strengthening unity within the fold of the opposition party in the state, minimising rancour during the primaries and presenting a formidable front against rival parties in 2027.
It was further gathered that some members of the state executive committee may have been subtly informed about preferred consensus candidates being considered for elective positions across the state.
Though details of the deliberations were still sketchy as of press time, sources hinted that the national leadership stressed the need for cohesion, discipline and strategic alignment among stakeholders to improve the party’s electoral fortunes in Oyo.
Those at the meeting included the Oyo APC Chairman, Moses Alake Adeyemo; the state secretary, Fatai Adesina Adeniyi; the Publicity Secretary, Olawale Sadare; the Organising Secretary, Aderemi Adepoju; and the Legal Adviser, Sunday Aborisade.
Others were the Women Leader, Adekemi Opatunde; the Youth Leader, Olalekan Oladejo; Joshua Oyebamiji; Tunde Oloyede; Sunday Babalola; Joseph Omoniyi; and Mojeed Adebayo.
As of the time of filing this report, the party had yet to issue an official statement on the outcome of the meeting.
The Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Oyo State, Chief Moses Alake Adeyemo, on Monday assured aspirants and party members that the party would conduct transparent, peaceful and credible direct primaries ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Adeyemo declared that no aspirant would be victimised or denied a level playing field, stressing that the party leadership remained committed to internal democracy and progressive ideals.
The former deputy governor spoke while receiving members of the APC Screening and Appeal Committees deployed from the party’s National Secretariat in Abuja at the APC Secretariat in Oke-Ado, Ibadan.
He disclosed that although the party initially explored consensus arrangements across elective positions, prevailing realities indicated that direct primaries would be conducted in some areas, including the governorship contest.
Adeyemo said the party had already put necessary structures in place to ensure a hitch-free exercise capable of strengthening unity within the APC.
He said: “We set machineries in motion for us to achieve the aim of consensus across board but reports available to me indicate that we would have to go by the second option which is direct primary in certain cases including the governorship ticket.
“To this end, we shall work towards organising free, fair and credible exercise in all the affected areas even as we cannot rule out the possibility of some aspirants having a rethink and supporting the consensus arrangement as necessary.
“Where we have more than an aspirant, Abuja would send people to conduct primaries and we at the state level would provide the required support to make everything work out in the interest of our great party.”
The APC chairman explained that all registered party members would participate fully in the exercise at their respective wards on dates to be announced by the National Secretariat.
According to him, affirmation would be adopted in areas where consensus candidates emerge, while voting would be conducted wherever direct primaries become necessary.
“For consensus, members will lend their voices for affirmation while voting will be done in the cases of direct primary,” he added.
Speaking earlier, Chairman of the Screening Committee and former Speaker of the Ondo State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Taofiq AbdusSalam, assured party faithful that the committee would carry out a thorough, transparent and unbiased screening process.
He said only eligible aspirants would be cleared to participate in the primaries and eventually fly the APC flag in the forthcoming elections.
Other members of the Screening Committee are Kamal Sanusi (Secretary), Smart Oluwole, Tunde Kolade and Olabamiji Agunloye.
Members of the Screening Appeal Committee are Jibola Oduwole (Chairman), Abimbola Jack (Secretary) and Jelil Jimoh.
The Nigeria Democratic Congress on Saturday zoned its 2027 presidential ticket to Southern Nigeria, declaring that the party’s candidate would serve a single four-year term if elected.
The decision was reached during the party’s national convention held in Abuja amid growing momentum within the opposition platform following a wave of high-profile defections from other political parties.
Announcing the development on its official social media handle, the party stated, “NDC presidential ticket is zoned to the South!!”
The party also resolved that its 2031 presidential ticket would be ceded to Northern Nigeria as part of efforts to maintain regional balance and internal equity.
The convention comes as key opposition figures, including former Labour Party presidential candidate, Peter Obi, and former New Nigeria People’s Party presidential candidate, Rabiu Kwankwaso, joined party leaders and delegates at the Abuja gathering.
Saturday’s convention is expected to ratify several recent decisions taken by the party’s National Executive Committee, including zoning arrangements, amendments to the party constitution, and the election of new national executives.
According to the convention agenda obtained by journalists, discussions centred on zoning, ratification of the amended constitution, and leadership restructuring ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The NDC has in recent weeks witnessed a surge in defections from rival opposition parties, particularly the African Democratic Congress and the Peoples Democratic Party.
On Tuesday, no fewer than 17 members of the House of Representatives defected from the ADC to the NDC.
Their defections were formally announced during plenary at the House of Representatives.
The lawmakers include Yusuf Datti, Uchenna Okonkwo, Adamu Wakili, Thaddeus Attah, George Ozodinobi, Lilian Orogbu, Oluwaseyi Sowunmi, Peter Aniekwe, Mukhtar Zakari, George Oluwande and Munachim Umezuruike.
Others are Emeka Idu, Jesse Onuakalusi, Ifeanyi Uzokwe, Afam Ogene, Murphy Omoruyi and Abdulhakeem Ado.
The defections came barely two days after Obi and Kwankwaso formally joined the NDC from the ADC.
The duo were presented with the party’s membership cards last Sunday shortly after a closed-door meeting with party leaders.
A former Governor of Bayelsa State and NDC national leader, Seriake Dickson, officially welcomed the opposition figures into the party.
Obi had attributed his exit from the ADC to worsening internal crises, external interference and what he described as increasing hostility within party structures.
The former Anambra State governor said Nigeria’s political environment had become increasingly toxic, marked by intimidation, insecurity and sustained scrutiny of opposition figures.
He also lamented that institutions meant to protect citizens were now often deployed against them, while individuals committed to genuine public service faced mounting pressure both publicly and privately.
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