The political atmosphere in Oyo State was charged on Tuesday following the emergence of the former Deputy Governor of the state, Chief Moses Alake Adeyemo, as the new Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC).
While the development is being celebrated in some quarters as a strategic move to unite the fractured party, it has also sparked a debate among stakeholders from the Oke-Ogun zone. Some party stalwarts from the region expressed concerns that zoning the chairmanship to Oke-Ogun might jeopardize the zone’s long-standing ambition to produce the next governor in 2027.
Reacting to the development, Opeyemi Ayanrinde (popularly known as MC Swagger), the Media and Publicity Secretary to Dr. Adewale Kolapo Kareem (AKK), a leading APC governorship aspirant, described the choice of Adeyemo as a masterstroke.
Speaking with GISTLIFE in Ibadan, Ayanrinde noted that Adeyemo’s vast experience as a former number-two citizen would provide the stabilizing force the party needs to avoid the pitfalls of the previous elections.
“The party has made a very good decision. Chief Moses Adeyemo is a cool-headed man. With his caliber and experience, his leadership will bring the harmony, peace, unity, and love that we have all been craving. We are confident that what happened in the last election will not repeat itself,” Ayanrinde said.
Addressing the “Oke-Ogun Lokan” (Oke-Ogun’s Turn) agitation, which has gained momentum recently, Ayanrinde called for pragmatism. He noted that while the zone desires the governorship, party supremacy must prevail.
“Oke-Ogun agenda is not for now; there is a time for everything,” Ayanrinde remarked. “Although the ticket might be zoned to Ibadan, the most important thing is that the APC produces a viable candidate who can represent the interests of all zones. At the end of the day, it is the party that decides, not just a zone.”
On the stand of his principal, Dr. Adewale Kolapo Kareem, Ayanrinde maintained that the AKK camp is fully aligned with the party’s leadership and directives.
“Regarding my candidate, AKK, whatever the party desires is what we will work with. We are a unity party, and we believe 2027 belongs to the APC,” he added.
He further congratulated Chief Adeyemo and the newly emerged state executive committee, including the new State Treasurer, Alhaji Lateef Akinsanya Ajiboye, urging them to hit the ground running in the quest to reclaim the state.
