There are indications that the internal crisis rocking the Oyo State chapter of the All Progressives Congress, APC, may continue to linger following the absence of some major stakeholders in the conflict during a reconciliatory meeting held in Ibadan on Wednesday.
Reports say, he 2023 governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Oyo State, Teslim Folarin, former Minister of Power, Adebayo Adelabu, other governorship aspirants Akeem Agbaje, Hakeem Alao, and former Deputy Governor of the state, Rauf Olaniyan, were all absent from a reconciliation meeting that attracted the presence of the party’s national chairman, Professor Nentawe Yilwatda.
The meeting was held with members of the Oyo State APC reconciliation committee as the party intensifies efforts to resolve internal disagreements ahead of the 2027 elections.
Addressing Newsmen after the meeting, Prof Yilwatda explained that reconciliation within the party was an ongoing exercise and made it clear that the APC must be united to regain control of Oyo State in 2027.
While describing the disagreements among members as an internal family matter that could be resolved through dialogue, he assured that the leadership would continue to engage aggrieved members and work towards rebuilding confidence within the party.
“The APC is a family. Whatever is happening in the party is a family issue. It is normal for members of the same family to have challenges, but we are happy that the issues are being addressed as a family.
“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,” the APC National Chair enthused.
On the recently concluded Osun State governorship election, Prof Yilwatda said the party would make its official position on the outcome known after a meeting of the National Working Committee (NWC) and other stakeholders to examine what transpired during the election.
The National Chairman, however, described the election as an opportunity for the APC to identify areas requiring improvement, urging members to demonstrate political maturity and sportsmanship.
Contributing, the Chairman of the Oyo APC reconciliation committee, Femi Lanlehin, made public that the committee had made progress in its efforts to settle the grievances arising from the party’s governorship primary.
According to him, the committee had met the aggrieved aspirants and submitted its findings to the national chairman.
“We cannot afford to lose the 2027 election to any opposition parties in Oyo State. I am assuring you that we will win all the elective positions at all levels in 2027 in Oyo State,” he stated.
