Congress: Crisis hits Oyo APC as stakeholders reject Adeyemo presidency

Indigenes of Oke Ogun, Oyo North Senatorial District, have rejected the zoning deal of the All Progressives Congress (APC) which saw the emergence of Chief Moses Adeyemo as the state president.

Adeyemo, a former Deputy Governor under the late Governor Abiola Ajimobi, is an indigene of Igboho, Orelope Local Government Area of ​​Oke-Ogun area.

The former deputy governor from 2011 to 2019 was unanimously adopted as the consensus candidate at the party’s state conference, held at the Liberty Stadium in Ibadan on Tuesday.

The tribals, under the aegis of socio-cultural group “Egbe Ajosepo fun Itesiwaju Gbogbo Wa”, alleged that the zoning of the presidency position was a strategic plot to deprive the zone of the opportunity of the governorship position in the 2027 elections.

The national chairman of the group, Dauda Olaifa, on Wednesday said Oke-Ogun zone has made its demand for the governorship post known to political parties through various press conferences, consultations and advocacy at the APC secretariat in Ibadan.

Olaifa said the move was aimed at openly declaring that the collective agreement of the zone does not accept the party presidency position, deputy governor post or any other consolation post in exchange for the governorship post.

“In our previous engagements and consultations with the press, we have highlighted that Oke-Ogun has historically produced party presidents since 1999 in AD/APC and PDP.

“Our zone, in the past, has produced party chairmen such as Chief Michael Koleoso, Chief David Adesola, Hon Isaac Omodewu, Mr Jacob Adetoro, Mr Omokunmi Mustapha, Hon Michael Okunlade, Hon Dayo Ogungbenro among others.

“Unfortunately, another Oke-Ogun indigene was appointed chairman of the APC on Tuesday.

“This is the eighth time the party president has left our area, while other regions have held the position only once or twice.

“Likewise, Oke-Ogun has produced five deputy governors.

“We produced Alhaji Hammed Gbadamosi, Iyiola Oladokun, Chief Moses Adeyemo, Alhaji Rauf Olaniyan and Alhaji Bayo Lawal, the incumbent deputy governor.

“However, the governorship seat has consistently eluded Oke-Ogun despite its huge population spread across 10 local government areas,” he said.

Olaifa said experience has shown that whenever the posts of deputy governor or party chairman are given to Oke-Ogun, the path to the governorship is effectively blocked.

He said the people of Oke-Ogun are ready to support any political party that chooses one of the competent sons of the area already put forward as its governorship candidate in 2027.

“We categorically reject the zoning of the APC party chairman on our region.

“Among our capable aspirants are Alhaji Bayo Shittu, Alhaji Rauf Olaniyan, Dr Gbenga Adegbola, Dr Muyiwa Gbadegesin, Dr Kazeem Ayandoye.

“As we reiterate our unwavering support for President Bola Tinubu’s second term agenda, we pledge to contribute to its realization.

“However, our support is conditional, patriotic and principled,” Olaifa said.