Key Points
- Oyo APC promises a fair and transparent selection process.
- Stakeholders are united in efforts to retain the federal constituency seat.
- Aspirants praise the party for ensuring fairness in the by-election.
Olayide Abas, the chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) branch in Oyo State, has promised candidates running for the open seat in the House of Representatives’ Ibadan North Federal Constituency that the selection process will be impartial and open.
Oyo APC begins search for Ibadan North’s next representative
Speaking at a stakeholders’ meeting held Thursday at the Oyo APC’s Oke-Ado Secretariat, Abas stated that the party would select its candidate for the by-election in accordance with democratic and constitutional norms.
Following Olaide Akinremi’s death in July 2024, the seat became vacant, and the party’s efforts to recapture it began with the meeting. Akinremi was using the APC platform to serve his second term.
It took us a few weeks to accept the fact that our man, Prince Akinremi, one of the nation’s top-performing federal lawmakers, had passed away. We must find a substitute since nature detests a vacuum. “Only the APC can put forward a candidate who can carry on his legacy,” Abas stated.
Party stakeholders rally to retain Ibadan North for APC
About 20 APC members from the Ibadan North Federal Constituency have indicated an interest in running in the by-election, he admitted.
The fact that each candidate is qualified to represent this significant constituency in the Green Chamber makes me especially happy. There have been some worries raised by the large number of applicants, but be assured that we will treat everyone equally. The Federal Constituency of Ibadan North cannot afford to have a representative whose opinion is ignored because of party inferiority. This emphasizes how important it is for the APC to hold onto the seat,” Abas stated.
Stakeholders both inside and outside the state had promised to back the party’s eventual nominee, he continued.
“As we are dedicated to ensuring a free and fair process to select our candidate, we appeal to party leaders, aspirants, and all concerned individuals and groups in the federal constituency to cooperate with us,” he stated.
Musibau Ayinla, speaking for the candidates, praised the Oyo APC leadership for their pledge of impartiality and practical approach.
Adekunle Oladeji, Wale Olatunji (Murphy), Olusegun Olaleye (Radical Brother), and Umar Arisekola-Alao were among the other candidates present at the meeting.
According to Punch, in attendance were Kehinde Subair, Mojeed Olaoya, and Tajudeen Olanite.
