Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State has publicly rebuked Abdullahi Ganduje, the National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), for his assertion that the APC would take over Oyo and Osun states following their victory in Ondo State.
Ganduje had expressed confidence in achieving political dominance across the South-West, stating, "Our next target now is the South-West geopolitical zone, and you know we are good at hitting the target, and this is Osun State and Oyo State."
Makinde, however, dismissed Ganduje's comments as distractions, emphasizing that the people of Oyo and Osun, along with the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), were prepared to reject the APC's advances.
He made these remarks during the commissioning of a dual carriageway in Osogbo, Osun State, highlighting the political shift that occurred two years prior when Osun moved from one political party to the PDP.
The Oyo governor, through his Chief Press Secretary, Dr. Sulaimon Olanrewaju, criticized the APC's focus on state capture rather than addressing the burdens imposed on Nigerians by their policies.
He stated, "It is a shame that instead of easing people’s burden, what preoccupies the mind of the APC and its leadership are the capture of states and the abduction of people’s destinies."
Similarly, Osun Governor Ademola Adeleke condemned Ganduje's remarks, cautioning against anti-democratic utterances and plots to destabilize the South-West.
Adeleke argued that electoral contests depend on local factors, which differ significantly between states like Edo, Ondo, and Osun. He warned that Ganduje's approach threatened democracy and undermined the consensus among Yoruba people.
The PDP Deputy National Youth Leader, Timothy Osadolor, also accused the APC of manipulating elections in Edo and Ondo states, vowing to rally opposition against any attempts to seize control of Oyo and Osun.
The National Publicity Secretary of the Labour Party, Obiora Ifoh, echoed these sentiments, expressing skepticism about the APC's ability to dominate the South-West given the current economic challenges faced by Nigerians.
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