The Oyo State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has begun strategic moves aimed at delivering a significantly higher number of votes for Bola Ahmed Tinubu in the 2027 general elections, declaring that lessons learnt from the 2023 polls are already shaping its renewed political direction.
This is just as the Oyo State representative in the Federal Character Commission (FCC), Prince Ayodele Abass-Aleshinloye, appealed to the national leadership of the party to grant automatic delegate status to former elected local government chairmen during party congresses and conventions, describing the move as critical to deepening grassroots democracy.
Oyo APC Chairman, Otunba Moses Adeyemo, disclosed the party’s plans while fielding questions from journalists shortly after hosting members of Forum 68 , the body of former local government chairmen and councillors in the state ,ĺ who paid him a congratulatory visit following the emergence of a new State Executive Committee (SEC).
Adeyemo said the party has put machinery in motion to work closely with grassroots leaders across all local governments in order to improve its electoral performance in 2027, stressing that unity within the party remains the cornerstone of its strategy.
According to him, the APC in Oyo State has successfully overcome the internal divisions that characterised its 2023 outing, noting that all factions have now collapsed into one united front.
“If you are listening to what is happening in APC now, in 2023 we had factions. By the grace of God, I don’t like to go too much into details. All the factions have come together to be in one particular family. But in order not to make this thing disperse again, we are stressing the importance of unity,” he said.
The chairman expressed optimism that the renewed unity would translate into electoral victory, adding that the party is confident of returning to power at the Agodi Government House in Ibadan in 2027.
“So, we are united now, and we pray that nothing will happen to us again. We are very confident that by 2027, our party is coming to governance,” Adeyemo added.
On how the party intends to secure more votes for President Tinubu, he pointed to the critical role of grassroots mobilisation, particularly through local government structures and party loyalists at the community level.
“Well, we are achieving it because you can see our grassroots chairmen. They will go back to their various local governments and make sure that they campaign and mobilise people. We will continue to appeal to our members because it is through appeal and reconciliation that we can bring more people on board,” he said.
Adeyemo also appealed to aggrieved members of the party to remain patient and committed, assuring that opportunities would abound if the party succeeds in reclaiming power.
“We are telling those who are hurt to be patient because by the grace of God, if we are able to come to governance, there will be many opportunities for everyone,” he stated.
Speaking on agitations from the Oke-Ogun zone for the governorship ticket to be zoned to the area, the APC chairman maintained that whatever decision is eventually taken by the party leadership should be accepted in good faith by all stakeholders in the interest of unity.
Also , Aleshinloye, who doubles as Chairman of Forum 68, emphasised the need for former elected council chairmen to be accorded automatic delegate status, arguing that their inclusion would strengthen the party’s internal processes and reward grassroots leadership.
“Having automatic representation at the congress or convention of the party is key because this government believes in grassroots governance and the autonomy of the third tier of government. If you are an elected chairman who governs at the grassroots, you should be allowed to represent that grassroots at the national convention of the party,” he said.
He noted that the ongoing review of the party’s constitution presents an opportunity to institutionalise such inclusion, adding that former council officials have consistently advocated for local government autonomy and democratic participation.He recalled that the legal battles fought by the group in defence of local government autonomy, stating that they secured favourable judgments up to the Supreme Court, which affirmed their position.
“We have been advocates of local government autonomy. We fought for it and got judgment at the Supreme Court. Since then, we have continued to ensure that grassroots governance is respected in this country,” he said.
Highlighting the strength of Forum 68, Aleshinloye disclosed that the group comprises 68 former local government chairmen, 68 vice-chairmen, and over 600 councillors who remain politically active and united across the state.
“These are critical stakeholders. We still meet regularly across zones, and this structure will serve as the nucleus of the party going forward,” he added.
He expressed confidence that the APC would not only improve on its previous electoral performance but could potentially double the votes secured for President Tinubu in the next election cycle.
“Even in the last election, despite the division within the party, Oyo State still delivered the highest votes for President Tinubu in the South-West outside Lagos. By God’s grace, we are going to double that performance in 2027,” Aleshinloye stated.
The meeting, which brought together key grassroots political actors, is seen as part of broader efforts by the Oyo APC to reposition itself, rebuild internal cohesion, and mount a formidable challenge in the 2027 general elections.
 has begun strategic moves aimed at delivering a significantly higher number of votes for Bola Ahmed Tinubu in the 2027 general elections, declaring that lessons learnt from the 2023 polls are already shaping its renewed political direction.){kind=link}