Oyo APC rallies Ibadan North stakeholders ahead of by-election

By Adejayan Gbenga –

Following the announcement of the date for the by-election to fill the vacant Ibadan North Federal Constituency seat in the House of Representatives by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Oyo State has kick-started preparations with a call for unity, commitment, and cooperation among all stakeholders.

This was the highlight of a resolution reached at a meeting organized by members of the State Working Committee of the party and eminent leaders and stalwarts from Ibadan North Local Government Area. The meeting, held on Tuesday at the APC State Secretariat in Oke-Ado, Ibadan, was presided over by the State Chairman, Alhaji Olayide Abas.

In a statement issued at the end of the meeting and made available to journalists in Ibadan by the party’s Publicity Secretary, Olawale Sadare, Oyo APC acknowledged receiving the guidelines for the conduct of a primary election to produce its candidate for the by-election. The seat became vacant following the death of Hon. Olaide Akinremi, a party member and former lawmaker.

In his opening remarks, the party chairman emphasized the need for all stakeholders to collaborate to help the APC reclaim the seat, which it won convincingly in the 2023 general elections. “It is unfortunate that we lost one of our best-performing elected officials in Hon. Musiliu Olaide Akinremi, but we take solace in the enduring legacy he left behind. We urge the constituents of Ibadan North to keep faith with us as we are committed to giving them another performer,” he said.

Abas further explained that, in compliance with INEC’s directives and the APC National Secretariat’s guidelines, the party would commence the revalidation and update of its membership register across the 12 wards in Ibadan North LGA. The exercise will run simultaneously in each ward’s meeting venue between July 2 and July 5, 2025. According to him, the only requirement for both new and existing members is their Permanent Voter Card (PVC).

He clarified that the party has not yet decided on the mode of primary election to adopt, noting that consultations with relevant stakeholders are ongoing. “We have options of consensus, direct, and indirect primaries, but none has been adopted yet. However, we appeal to aspirants and their supporters to embrace peace, as we assure them of fairness and justice,” Abas stated.

Responding on behalf of the stakeholders, party stalwart Alhaji Bello Adeleke Oladeji expressed confidence in the state leadership of the APC. He assured that members of the APC Apex Committee in Ibadan North were united and committed to mobilizing support for whoever emerges as the party’s candidate.

Oladeji described the by-election as a litmus test for the APC ahead of the next general election, stressing that the unity and commitment of members would be critical to the party’s success at the polls.