2 Major Factions Emerge Within Oyo APC

There is a crack within the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Oyo State.

The signs are there for all to see. Despite its recent reconciliatory moves to mend its fences, the party is presently experiencing a significant realignment, with two prominent factions now openly vying for influence and control.

This internal division, steaming for months, has crystallized into two major camps: one aligning with Zacch Adedeji, the Executive Chairman of the Nigeria Revenue Service (NRS), who is believed to be using his closeness to President Tinubu and the power that be in the presidency to his advantage; and the other gravitating towards the former First Lady of Oyo State and Nigeria's Ambassador to Austria, Mrs. Florence Ajimobi.

Sources within the party reveal that the Adedeji camp, often seen as representing a forward-thinking and potentially younger guard, is actively consolidating its base, particularly among those keen on shaping the party's future trajectory.

On the other side, Mrs. Ajimobi's faction, drawing strength from long-standing party loyalists and those who revere the legacy of her late husband, Senator Abiola Ajimobi, is asserting its continued relevance and foundational role within the Oyo APC.

In Ajimobi's camp are prominent figures such as Senator Hosea Agboola (Alleluyah); former Senate Leader and a governorship aspirant, Senator Teslim Folarin; Chief Bayo Adelabu, the immediate past power minister and another governorship aspirant; Professor Adeolu Akande; and Oyo North Senator Fatai Buhari, among others.

Conversely, Adedeji's side includes Senator Sarafadeen Alli, the Oyo South lawmaker and a leading governorship aspirant, who is said to likely emerge as the party’s consensus candidate; Oyo Central Senator Yunus Akintunde; Hon. Shina Alabi; some key patty leaders; Hon. Remi Oseni, who is eyeing the Oyo South Senatorial seat; and most serving House of Representatives lawmakers, except Hon. Olamiju Akala, who appears to align with Ajimobi's camp.

Further confirming the cracks were the conspicuous absence of those in Florence Ajimobi’s camp at the two critical events recently held: the official declarations of Senator Sarafadeen Alli and Hon. Remi Oseni, respectively.

This emergence of clear factions, no doubt, sets the stage for a compelling internal power struggle, with implications for party primaries, leadership positions, and the overall strategic direction of the Oyo APC as it prepares for the 2027 general elections.

The coming months are expected to see intensified jockeying for position as both camps seek to solidify their dominance.

But what truly lies at the heart of the latest dispute within the party?

Political observers in the state largely attribute this deepening rift, particularly within Folarin and Alli camps, while acknowledging other underlying factors, to Senator Sarafadeen Alli's governorship ambition. 

Alli’s move is widely perceived as an act of betrayal, especially given the significant support he received from Senator Folarin's camp during his senatorial bid in 2023.

There is also a claim in some quarters that the power tussle may be linked to certain party leaders' efforts to checkmate Adedeji’s growing influence within and outside Oyo politics.

Those not aligned with the NRS boss believe he intends to use his influence to install the state’s next governor, then position his younger brother as deputy, who could potentially take over after the governor's tenure, particularly given the loud clamor for power to shift from Ibadan to other zones of the state.

Another party source also revealed that some leaders' grievances stem from what was described as "ill-treatment" meted out to foundational members and core progressives within the party, while those deemed "political sojourners" in the APC enjoy most of the benefits of their collective efforts.

-Dare Adeniran 

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