Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State and his Osun counterpart, Ademola Adeleke, have criticized Abdullahi Ganduje, the National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), for his statement claiming that the APC plans to take control of Oyo and Osun states following their victory in the Ondo State governorship election.
After the Independent National Electoral Commission announced Lucky Aiyedatiwa as the winner of the Ondo election, Ganduje expressed the APC’s ambition to unify the South-West by ousting the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) from Oyo and Osun states. He stated, “Our next focus is the South-West geopolitical zone, and we will do everything possible to bring them into our ranks for political unity.”
In response, Governor Makinde dismissed Ganduje’s claims as unrealistic, and Adeleke advised him against making anti-democratic comments that could threaten stability in the region. Through his Chief Press Secretary, Dr. Sulaimon Olanrewaju, Makinde asserted that neither the state government nor the Oyo PDP would yield to the APC’s ambitions, echoing the sentiments of the party’s acting Publicity Secretary, Micheal Ogunsina, who criticized Ganduje’s takeover intentions. Ogunsina highlighted that it was unimaginable for the APC to believe that the people of Oyo State would abandon the “oasis of peace, ease, and good governance” established under Makinde’s rule for “devastation, pain, sorrow, and tears.”
The Oyo PDP emphasized that instead of focusing on state capture, the APC should be addressing the burdens its policies have imposed on Nigerians. They chided the APC for seeming more interested in seizing power than in alleviating the struggles of the populace, comparing their tactics to those of “forest bandits.”
Reacting to Ganduje, Makinde’s office highlighted the party’s strong opposition to any attempt to undermine the state. Adeleke, in a statement from his media aide, noted that Ganduje’s views contrasted sharply with President Tinubu’s commitment to democracy, emphasizing that local political contexts are crucial in elections. He urged Ganduje to familiarize himself with Osun’s political landscape, as the dynamics there differ significantly from what occurred in Edo and Ondo.
Meanwhile, Timothy Osadolor, Deputy National Youth Leader of the PDP, accused the ruling APC of manipulating recent elections and vowed to mobilize support against the APC’s efforts to gain control of Oyo, Osun, and other opposition-held states. He labeled Ganduje’s remarks as both wishful and alarming, criticizing the APC for prioritizing power acquisition over the democratic process.
Dr. Tosin Odeyemi, Chairman of the New Nigeria Peoples Party in Osun State, also admonished Ganduje for potentially inciting political unrest, calling his statement reckless in light of the current economic difficulties faced by Nigerians.
Likewise, Labour Party National Publicity Secretary Obiora Ifoh urged caution, warning that Ganduje’s statements could lead to violence, and expressed skepticism over the APC’s ability to dominate the South-West in the near future, citing widespread dissatisfaction with the current administration. He pointed out that challenges affecting the South-West heighten the unlikelihood of a continued APC reign.
