The most important primary election in Oyo State politics may be the one inside the party’s own boardroom. As commentators are now making points about, the APC’s internal chess game is setting the stage for 2027.
The party has historically been defined by a dichotomy in Oyo. On one side is Bayo Adelabu, the current Minister of Power and a two-time gubernatorial contender—he has formally declared his 2027 ambition. On the other side is Teslim Folarin, the party’s 2023 flagbearer and a master of grassroots machinery.
One might assume that these two hold all the power, but no. The late Governor Abiola Ajimobi’s legacy actually serves as a unifying force, shepherded by his widow, Florence. She has emerged as a key matriarch, leading reconciliation tours to mend long-standing factional rifts.
Then, there is also federal influence to consider, for example, Zacch Adedeji, the FIRS Chairman, who wields immense power from Abuja but has ruled out a gubernatorial run. The national clout of Adedeji remains a resource for any aligned faction, not forgetting that former Minister Adebayo Shittu also remains in the mix.
The current rapprochement, spearheaded by Folarin’s “Renewed Hope” tours, makes it clear that any truce arrived at now can only be fragile. And even though the goal is to present a united front, the underlying contest for ultimate control simmers just beneath the surface.
Therefore, the fundamental question is whether party loyalty or federal backing will prove decisive. After all, while Adelabu represents a minister with Tinubu’s ear, Folarin embodies the local structure that turns out votes.
For now, the supremacy battle is on pause, not resolved. Both sides understand that in Oyo, the APC’s path to the government house requires first winning the war within its own ranks. The real election will be a test of whether their new unity is a strategy or just a temporary ceasefire.
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