Politics
Oyo North: Adeolu Akande highlights track record, declares readiness
A chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and former Chairman of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), Prof. Adeolu Akande, has declared his readiness to represent Oyo North Senatorial District in the National Assembly, citing a long record of public service, ICT development projects, and youth empowerment initiatives across Oyo State.
Akande, who also served as Chief of Staff to a former Governor of Oyo State and Chairman of the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), said his experience in government, academia, journalism, and law has adequately prepared him for legislative duties.
The APC senatorial aspirant spoke in remarks obtained from Newspeakonline.com. He said his years in public office had given him a deep connection with the people and opportunities to deliver impactful projects across the state.
“To start with, I’ve been part of the community. God has given me opportunities to serve in certain positions. I’ve served as Deputy Chief Press Secretary to the President of Nigeria. I’ve served as Special Assistant, Communications Strategist to the President. I’ve been Chief of Staff to the Governor of Oyo State. I’ve been Chairman of NITDA. I’ve been Chairman of NCC. In all of these positions, I have been of value to my community, and I think that’s the most important thing for any politician,” he said.
Akande added that his developmental footprint cuts across Oyo North and the entire state, insisting that his record would speak for him in the political contest.
“If you go around Oyo North, or in actual fact, if you go around Oyo State, my footprint is all over the place, such that I don’t need much effort to convince people that if I have the opportunity, I’m going to be an efficient representative of the people,” he said.
He listed several ICT-driven interventions facilitated during his tenure as NCC Chairman, including multi-billion-naira projects in tertiary institutions and connectivity projects across schools and public institutions.
“As Chairman of NCC, for instance, if you go to the University of Ibadan, I was able to facilitate an ICT project worth more than a billion naira. I also facilitated a project worth more than one billion for LAUTECH, Iseyin Campus. I facilitated campus-wide internet access for LAUTECH in Ogbomoso. I facilitated campus-wide internet access for The Oke-Ogun Polytechnic, Saki. I facilitated the same facility for the Federal College of Education (Special), Oyo. I have an ICT facility that I did for Emmanuel Alayande College of Education in Oyo. I have an ICT centre at the Oyo State College of Agriculture and Technology, Igboora. I have an ICT centre at Government College, Ibadan. So many secondary schools across Oke-Ogun and Ogbomoso also benefited from these projects,” he said.
He further noted that key public infrastructure also benefited from ICT connectivity support.
“Bodija Market here, we gave them internet access. At Ladoke Akintola Airport, we gave them internet access. During COVID, we gave the University College Hospital a sophisticated ambulance, which is still in use. So if you go across Oyo State, you’ll see my footprint. By God, the opportunity I had, I’ve used it,” Akande stated.
Akande also disclosed that over 1,000 youths were trained and empowered through ICT capacity-building programmes under his leadership at NCC.
“As chairman of NCC, we trained over 1,000 youths in ICT. For them, we provided laptops, data, training, and follow-up services so that they could become self-employed in the area of ICT, because that is where the world is going,” he added.
Speaking on his professional background, Akande said his journey through journalism, political science, and law makes him uniquely prepared for lawmaking.
“I started as a journalist; journalism is about the welfare of the people. Then I went to the university to teach political science, which is about how government can be used for the good of the greatest number of people. Then I practise as a lawyer. The primary objective of law is the promotion of law and order,” he said.
He concluded that his experience and contributions qualify him for effective representation in the Senate.
“By virtue of my training and by virtue of my contribution to my community, I am eminently qualified to represent them, and I have no doubt that I will be a good representative,” the APC Chieftain added.
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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