The Hamzat-Yayi blueprint: How to win party tickets — by Olutayo Ogundipe

“Political parties are private organizations. They’re responsible for their internal governance and positioning the party for electoral success.

The way APC, especially in the Southwest, has been approaching the next election cycles is a lesson in party governance.

PBAT is the leader of the party. That’s the reality. He has his preferred candidates for some select posts. That’s pretty normal. Trump routinely endorse candidates in party primaries. He campaigns for them and even raises money for them. In his own case, he will even launch direct attacks on other candidates.

However, in Ogun and Lagos states, the President’s preferred candidates have carried themselves very well. I’ve been watching Senator Solomon Olamilekan Adeola, FCA (Yayi) over the last two years. His ambition has been quite transparent. He was a Senator from Lagos. He switched to Ogun State to position himself as from runner from Yewa part of the state. It’s common knowledge that the zone would most likely produce the next governor.

Yet, Yayi has humbled himself repeatedly before the state’s party leaders. I’ve watched his interactions with the governor at public events. He was always so deferential. He would bow to shake the governor. At one event celebrating the state’s 50 years anniversary, the governor had to pull Yayi out of the crowd to join them on the dance floor. For someone with such strong connections to the President, he played his hands very well. Showed respect to local leaders.

My big brother and friend, Dr. Obafemi Hamzat, has been touring Lagos State seeking support and endorsement of party leaders. From all indications, PBAT has endorsed him. Yet, he is making the rounds to solicit support of party elders.

Again, political parties are private organizations. The failure to organize properly is on the members. The way ADC is crying that their political opponent don’t wish their party well is nauseating. It’s childish and it shows how unserious they are.

Elected officials switch parties. In some cases, they stay and almost become a thorn in the flesh of their own party. Senator Fetterman from Pennsylvania is more MAGA than most Republican senators. Dude is more loyal to Trump that his Republican colleagues. He’s still a Democrat. The party is not going around crying that Trump is destabilizing their party. Where possible, they work with Fetterman. Now that election is approaching, they want to primary him and replace him with someone mainstream.

That’s how politics is played. Not playing the victim and acting like spoilt kids, begging big brother Trump to come and help you fight APC. Yeye dey smell.

Best wishes to Senator Yayi and Dr. Hamzat.”