A two-term governorship aspirant and chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Oyo State, Barrister Akeem Agbaje, has declared that party stakeholders will resist any attempt to impose a candidate ahead of the 2027 governorship election in the state.
Agbaje, who spoke with journalists in Ibadan on Monday, issued a strong warning against a repeat of the party’s 2023 missteps, which he said contributed to the APC’s failure to reclaim power from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
“A united APC will resist the imposition of a governorship candidate on the party in this state,” Agbaje said. “We have learnt of a particular candidate moving around the state, telling people who care to listen that the leadership of the party in Abuja has endorsed him as the party flagbearer in Oyo in 2027.”
Describing such claims as divisive and dangerous, Agbaje called on all aspirants to embrace internal democracy and allow party members to decide. “Do what others are doing. Don’t wait to be imposed or don’t wait to buy the ticket. We are making that case at the national level,” he added.
He expressed worry that the said aspirant has not connected with the grassroots and warned that any move to foist an unpopular candidate on the party may lead to yet another electoral defeat.
“My philosophy is that the party is supreme and we must work together for the success of the party. But history has taught us that the party too must do the needful by picking a candidate that is largely acceptable to the community,” Agbaje stressed.
While reiterating his commitment to APC’s ideals, Agbaje surprisingly commended Governor Seyi Makinde of the PDP for his administration’s handling of security in the state.
“As far as I’m concerned, he (Makinde) is doing very well on the issue of security, because apart from the normal localised crimes, we don’t have any major crimes in the state,” he said.
On the recurring issue of market fires across Oyo State, Agbaje blamed congestion and lack of infrastructural expansion, urging the government to take proactive steps to prevent further losses.
“All the markets are filled up. That’s why they have fire incidents. There is need for expansion, proper expansion,” he said, noting that markets such as Aleshinloye and Gbagi were now overcrowded despite initial apathy when they were first developed.
He called on the state government to create an enabling environment for traders by investing in structural reforms and modern market expansion strategies.
The APC stalwart’s remarks have added a fresh layer to the early political discourse in the state ahead of the 2027 general elections, with many within the party expected to weigh in on the call for internal party democracy and transparent primaries.