The race for the Oyo State governorship under the All Progressives Congress (APC) intensified on Sunday as former Deputy Governor, Engr. Rauf Aderemi Olaniyan, officially picked up the party’s nomination form.
Olaniyan’s entry into the contest adds a new dimension to the unfolding political contest, positioning him as a significant contender among a growing list of aspirants seeking to fly the APC flag in the next gubernatorial election.
With his declaration, Olaniyan becomes the second aspirant from the Oke-Ogun axis of the state to obtain the party’s governorship ticket, a development that is expected to reshape political calculations within the party and across the state.
Political observers note that the emergence of multiple aspirants from Oke-Ogun, a region that has long agitated for greater political representation could either strengthen the zone’s bargaining power or split its influence, depending on how party dynamics evolve in the coming weeks.
Olaniyan, an engineer and seasoned politician, previously served as Deputy Governor of Oyo State and is widely regarded as a grassroots mobiliser with deep connections across the state’s political landscape. His experience in governance and familiarity with the state’s administrative structure are expected to form key pillars of his campaign.
Party stakeholders say the contest remains open, with consultations, alignments, and possible consensus talks likely to intensify ahead of the party primaries.
As the APC prepares for its internal selection process, attention is now firmly on how regional interests, party unity, and candidate appeal will shape the outcome of what is increasingly becoming a keenly contested race.