Oyo APC Crisis Deepens As Adelabu, Folarin, Others Stay Away From Reconciliation Meeting

The 2023 candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Oyo State, Senator Teslim Folarin; former Minister of Power and governorship aspirant, Chief Adebayo Adelabu, and other aggrieved members were absent on Wednesday as the party’s National Chairman, Prof. Nentawe Yilwatda, met with the state reconciliation committee in Ibadan.

Other governorship aspirants and prominent members absent from the meeting included Akeem Agbaje, Hakeem Alao and former Deputy Governor of the state, Rauf Olaniyan.

The meeting was part of the APC’s renewed efforts to reconcile aggrieved members, strengthen its structure and unite stakeholders ahead of the 2027 general elections.

Speaking with journalists after the meeting, Yilwatda described reconciliation as a continuous process, saying the party would continue to engage members and stakeholders to resolve outstanding grievances.

He stressed the need for unity among APC members in Oyo State, saying it remained crucial to the party’s chances of reclaiming the state in 2027.

Yilwatda, who met with party leaders, stakeholders and members of the Oyo State APC Reconciliation Committee, described the party as a family, noting that disagreements were inevitable but should not be allowed to weaken the party.

“We are a family. It is normal for children of the same family to have some little difficulties. But we are happy that the party is still stable,” he said.

According to him, the fresh reconciliation process would focus on addressing grievances, rebuilding trust and strengthening the party ahead of the 2027 elections.

He said the APC was determined to ensure that differences among members did not undermine its electoral prospects, urging stakeholders to put the interest of the party above individual ambitions.

On the recently-concluded Osun State governorship election, Yilwatda said the APC had not taken an official position on the outcome.

He explained that the party’s National Working Committee would review the election with its candidate and other stakeholders before deciding on the appropriate position.

“We have not sat down as a party to take a position. A position as a party will involve the National Working Committee inviting candidates and taking a review of what happened in Osun State,” he said.

Yilwatda described the Osun election as a learning experience for the party and stressed the importance of political maturity and sportsmanship among members.

Also speaking, the Co-Chairman of the Oyo State APC Reconciliation Committee, Senator Olufemi Lanlehin, said the committee was working to resolve grievances arising from the party’s recent primaries.