Efforts by the Oyo APC Peace Advocates towards the rebuilding of the All Progressives Congress, APC in Oyo state continues to gather momentum.
The Oyo APC Peace Advocates is a Group of eminent Professionals, Veteran Politicians, Leaders and stakeholders within the Oyo APC.
The core mission of the Group is centered on the commitment to build and promote peace, understanding and cohesion within the Party, through proactive engagement with critical stakeholders, conflicts resolutions and unity building initiatives which will advertently secure victory for the party.
The story of Oyo APC in 2023 is that of a mixed circumstances.
While the Party did fantastically well during the Presidential and National Assembly election, having delivered the state to Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu in the Presidential ballot, winning all the three Senatorial seats and beating PDP to claim nine out of the fourteen House of Representatives seats, the fortune of the Party changed dramatically in the gubernatorial and House of Assembly election.
Not only did the Party lost the gubernatorial election to the PDP with a wide margin, Oyo APC only managed to win four out of the thirty two seats in the House of Assembly.
The Oyo APC Peace Advocates having discovered that the factionalization of the Party in the build up to the 2023 general election was the foundation of the failure of the Party in the 2023 gubernatorial and House of Assembly election, have since swung into action to bring unity back to the fold of the Party in Oyo state.
The Group, convened by two prominent Leaders in Oyo state, Chief Wale Ohu and Prince Niran Adeyoju, SDM, also has members, very prominent personalities with impeccable track records both in the Public and the Private sectors.
The Group had at different occasions met with critical stakeholders, both jointly and on personal basis, to discuss issues relating to peace, harmony and progress of the Party.
It is on record that the Group had met with the Oyo state Chairman of the APC, Alhaji Olayide Moshood Abass, the Oyo state Executive Council of the APC and most recently, the Elders Advisory Council of the Party led by a former Deputy Governor, Barr. Chief Iyiola Oladokun.
During the meeting with the Elders, where the National Assembly caucus in the state were ably represented by Senator Sarafadeen Alli and Hon. Olamiju Alao – Akala, the Group emphasized the need for them to arose the spirits of progressive activism which they were known with, in the Party.
The Elders not only appreciated the efforts of the Group, they also recommended that a meeting with the expanded Executive Committee of Oyo APC, including the 33 Local Government Party Chairmen is desirable.
In compliance with the recommendation of the Elders Advisory Council, the Group met with the expanded Executive Council of Oyo APC on Tuesday, 29th April, 2025.
At the meeting, Alhaji Tajudeen Olanite, the Oyo state APC Secretary welcomed the Group members.
He used the opportunity of the meeting to inform the Executive and the Group, that , Alhaji Olayide Moshood Abass is now the substantive Chairman of Oyo APC.
The Chairman, Alhaji Olayide Abass, in a short remarks, thanked the Group for the wonderful job they have been doing.
He declared that the Oyo APC Peace Advocates are the backbone of his support.
He went further to confirm that members of the Group have been dedicating time and resources to ensure that the Party is well positioned for success in 2027.
Chief Wale Ohu, Co- convener of the Group, while addressing the gathering explained the objectives of the Group.
He drew attentions to the facts that in spite of our numerical advantage over the opposition, we still lost the 2023 gubernatorial and House of Assembly election for the simple reason that we were not united.
He said that Party members are suffering today because our Party is not in control of Government in the state.
He went further to say that even now, no one has come forward to work for the unity within the Party but that everyone is busy working for the interest of aspirants to political offices and this have not being helping the rebuilding process.
He said, for them to succeed on the assignment, the Group has adopted an etho and the etho forbids any member of the Group from seeking elective positions or promoting an aspirant for any elective office, save for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, whose second term is sacrosanct by the Grace of God.
He enjoined the Executive members to emulate Alhaji Olayide Moshood Abass, the State Chairman whose integrity is unquestionable.
He promised that the Group would work on influences outside the state and higher party levels for them all to be mindful of their various actions which can make or mar Oyo APC victory in 2027.
The Group shall ensure that Party Congresses and Primaries shall be free, fair and credible while promising further that there shall be no Imposition of candidates in Oyo APC in 2027.
The Group will endeavor to see that choice of candidates for elective offices resonates strongly with the mood and tempo of majority party members.
He concluded his speech by enjoining the 33 Local Government Party Chairmen to go back to their respective Local Governments to preach the message of unity, peace and cohesion within the Party at the grassroots while also informing them that the Peace Advocates will soon commence zonal visits across the state to sensitise party members.
Prince Niran Adeyoju (SDM), a Co-Convener of the Group, in his own remarks, told the gathering that the Group means business and that there is no alternative to the APC winning Oyo state from top to bottom in 2027.
To underscore the seriousness of the Group, he said some prominent Leaders who would have been .members of the group were disqualified because they are nursing an ambition to contest for elective offices or on the ground that they are propagating the interest of one aspirant or the other.
He reemphasized the point that the Group demands absolute loyalty to the Party and not to individuals who are nursing the ambitions to contest for political offices.
He concluded by saying that the intentions of the Group is to reorganize and strengthen the Party in such a way that it will become a veritable tool for winning elections for all candidates who have emerged through free, fair and credible Party processes.
Other members of the Group who were present are: Rt. Hon. Dr. Akin Onigbinde SAN. ( former Speaker, OYHA). Prince Gbade Lana, ( former Hon. Commissioner Oyo state). Hon. Hazmat Ogunsola, ( former member, OYHA). Hon. Dr. Mrs. Peju Esan, ( former member, OYHA). Engr. Wale Adeoye, ( former Commissioner, Oyo state, now Exc. Director, Ogun – Osun River Basin Authority). Hon. Raji Rasaki, ( former Commissioner, Oyo state) and Alhaji Adebayo Haruna, ( rtd Perm. Sec. Oyo state).
