From Oluseye Ojo, Ibadan
The All Progressives Congress (APC) has declared its intention to reclaim Oyo State from the grip of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the 2027 general elections.
The party has set up a strategy, christened ‘Operation Recapture Oyo State,’ to actualise this goal.
The determination was echoed during a meeting of APC chieftains from the 10 local government areas in the Oke-Ogun region of the state, held in Igboho and presided over by Chief Iyiola Oladokun, the party’s leader and former deputy governor of the state.
The party leaders at the meeting were vocal regarding their concerns, lamenting that the state has lost its esteemed pacesetter status under PDP governance.
They highlighted critical issues plaguing the hinterlands, particularly in Oke-Ogun, where major roads are purportedly overrun with garbage, blocked drainage systems, and an alleged rise in kidnappings.
The party strategised on grassroots mobilisation, urging members to ensure that every eligible citizen acquires their Permanent Voter’s Card (PVC) to position them to effect significant change in the upcoming elections.
“We have learned our lessons on why we lost our progressive state to the PDP and are now committed to establishing a people-oriented, progressive government in Oyo State by 2027,” the party asserted.
The leaders at the meeting called for a power shift that would favour the Oke-Ogun zone in the selection of the governor for the state and the senatorial candidate for Oyo North for the next election cycle.
The gathering included notable figures such as former deputy governors, Chief Moses Adeyemo and Alhaji Rauf Olaniyan, as well as a former Minister of Communications, Adebayo Shittu.
The meeting was also attended by current and former lawmakers, along with women and youth leaders, all uniting to bolster the APC agenda.
Meanwhile, notable members of the APC Peace Advocate Group, comprising a former Speaker of the State House of Assembly, Dr. Akin Onigbinde (SAN), also attended the meeting. The group urged aspirants to maintain peace during their campaigns.
The meeting also passed a vote of confidence in President Bola Tinubu’s administration and pledged its support for his re-election bid in 2027.