Politics
Osun guber: Crisis in APC as chieftain blames ex-gov for defeat
By Philippine Duru
philippineobetoduru@gmail.com
08034905774
A chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and political commentator on X, Alubarika, has criticised former Osun State Governor, Gboyega Oyetola, accusing him of a series of political decisions that, according to him, significantly contributed to internal crises that weakened the party in the state.
In a post on his verified X handle (formerly Twitter), Alubarika said it was important to confront what he described as an uncomfortable aspect of the APC’s political history in Osun, rather than continue to portray Oyetola’s tenure as politically successful solely on the basis of his continued prominence within the party.
He argued that Oyetola’s political challenges began even before he fully assumed control of the APC structure in the state, particularly following the deterioration of relations between President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and former Osun State Governor, Rauf Aregbesola.
According to him, Oyetola, who benefited politically from the alliance between the two influential figures, ought to have acted as a bridge between them rather than allowing their differences to escalate.
Alubarika said the breakdown of the Tinubu–Aregbesola relationship ultimately became a key factor that complicated the APC’s political structure in Osun.
He also cited the handling of salary arrears inherited from the Aregbesola administration as one of Oyetola’s major political missteps.
While acknowledging that Oyetola’s position of not taking responsibility for debts incurred by his predecessor may have been administratively defensible, he argued that it was politically costly, as civil servants were primarily concerned with the payment of outstanding entitlements.
“Government is a continuum,” Alubarika stated, stressing that successive administrations inherit both the responsibilities and obligations of the state.
He noted that the unresolved salary arrears generated significant resentment among workers and became a political liability that opponents of the APC were able to exploit.
Alubarika contrasted Oyetola’s approach with that of Governor Ademola Adeleke, who, according to him, cleared the outstanding arrears and leveraged the issue to strengthen his political support among workers and other stakeholders.
The commentator also addressed the controversy surrounding the possibility of Adeleke joining the APC.
He claimed that former Osun State Deputy Governor, Iyiola Omisore, was among those who strongly opposed Adeleke’s entry into the APC at the state level, while Oyetola allegedly supported the broader resistance to his admission.
Alubarika argued that the opposition was largely driven by concerns over the political implications of Adeleke joining the APC, particularly the possibility of him emerging as the party’s governorship candidate.
He maintained that both Oyetola and Omisore had political interests to protect, suggesting that their positions were shaped by strategic calculations.
However, he said the strategy ultimately did not yield the intended outcome.
Alubarika further claimed that Oyetola was eventually advised to step aside amid concerns over his electoral viability, while Omisore was also excluded from the contest.
According to him, these developments created a political vacuum that eventually led to the emergence of Bola Oyebamiji as the APC governorship candidate, describing him as the “unfortunate beneficiary” of a difficult political environment he did not create.
He argued that Oyebamiji was subsequently left to manage the political consequences of the party’s earlier internal disputes, including unresolved grievances over workers’ salaries and divisions among party leaders.
Alubarika further contended that internal rivalries and competing ambitions within the APC distracted the party from building a cohesive structure capable of effectively challenging Adeleke.
He added that Adeleke’s eventual defection to the Accord Party underscored the consequences of disagreements surrounding his proposed entry into the APC.
According to him, the situation should serve as a lesson to political parties that electoral structures alone are insufficient for victory without strong leadership cohesion, grassroots engagement, and internal unity.
He rejected what he described as attempts to revise the political history of Osun by portraying Oyetola’s strategy as flawless.
“It was not. It failed. And the APC paid heavily for those failures,” he stated.
He maintained that no political actor can afford to alienate key allies, neglect grassroots mobilisation, or allow personal ambitions to override collective party interests while still expecting electoral success.
“Party structure can win elections, but it cannot indefinitely compensate for poor political judgment,” Alubarika said.
Meanwhile, the commentator disclosed that his WhatsApp inbox had been flooded with messages from individuals, including respected associates, questioning whether Omisore should continue to support the APC following what they described as his alleged unjust exclusion from the political process.
According to him, the issue centres on whether Omisore, as a former deputy governor who was removed from contention under disputed circumstances, should remain aligned with the same political establishment.
The comments have further intensified debate within Osun’s political space over loyalty, ambition, internal party democracy, and the extent to which political actors should subordinate personal grievances to party interests.
The controversy comes amid ongoing political realignments ahead of the next Osun governorship election, as parties and stakeholders intensify efforts to consolidate their structures and strengthen alliances.
Alubarika’s intervention has therefore added another dimension to the discourse on the APC’s past political decisions in Osun, particularly the roles of its key leaders and the long-term impact of internal disagreements on the state’s political landscape.
By Philippine Duru
philippineobetoduru@gmail.com
08034905774
A prominent member of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Rivers State, Princewill Dike, has declared that Ikwerre Local Government Area will be a difficult political terrain for former Minister of Transportation and African Democratic Congress (ADC) Vice-Presidential Candidate, Chibuike Amaechi, ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Dike, a lawyer and human rights activist, said Amaechi should not expect an easy political battle in Ikwerre or other parts of Rivers State, arguing that the state’s political dynamics had changed significantly.
He made the assertion on Saturday in a commentary posted on his Facebook page, Princewill Dike Platform.
According to him, Amaechi was fully aware of the political realities in Ikwerre and Rivers State and should therefore not anticipate an easy victory in the 2027 elections.
“Amaechi is fully aware of the political realities in Ikwerre and Rivers State, and should not expect an easy victory in the state during the next general elections,” Dike said.
The APC chieftain argued that Amaechi’s past political influence and access to federal structures did not translate into electoral victory in Rivers, questioning what would be different in 2027.
He said the emergence of former Rivers State Governor Nyesom Wike as Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) had significantly altered the political calculations in the state, particularly regarding federal influence and grassroots political structures.
“Whether Amaechi, who could not secure victory despite enjoying considerable federal backing in the past, will now be able to defeat the political structure associated with Wike remains doubtful,” he said.
Dike described Ikwerre as a particularly challenging battleground for Amaechi, stressing that the political realities on the ground should not be underestimated by anyone preparing for the 2027 elections.
He also predicted the re-election of President Bola Tinubu in 2027 and expressed confidence in the electoral prospects of the Rivers political coalition linked to the FCT Minister.
“Amaechi, who couldn’t win with his federal might, battalion of soldiers and INEC in his beck and call, is it now that the political wonder boy of Rivers State, Nyesom Ezenwo Wike, is in charge of the federal might and everything incidental thereto, that he (Amaechi) will win? Abeg, tell me something else jari?” Dike asked.
Quoting from the Scriptures, the APC leader added: “What seest thou? I see P-BAT re-elected, OK Chinda and all the Rivers coalition candidates elected.”
Dike, who is also a philanthropist, maintained that the political tide was already taking shape in Rivers State, saying the strength of emerging alliances and grassroots structures would play a decisive role in determining the outcome of the 2027 elections.
By Philippine Duru
philippineobetoduru@gmail.com
08034905774
A prominent chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Alubarika, has projected that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu will lead the 2027 presidential election in four of Nigeria’s six geopolitical zones, while former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and former Anambra State governor Peter Obi are expected to dominate the North-East and South-East respectively.
Alubarika made the projection in a post on his verified X handle, formerly Twitter, where he assessed the likely performance of the major contenders based on what he described as his political experience, grassroots engagement and understanding of Nigeria’s electoral dynamics.
According to his projection, Tinubu would secure 50 per cent of the vote in the North Central, compared with 25 per cent for Atiku, 20 per cent for Obi and five per cent for other candidates.
The North Central zone comprises Benue, Kogi, Kwara, Nasarawa, Niger, Plateau and the Federal Capital Territory.
In the North-East, however, Alubarika predicted an advantage for Atiku, giving the former vice president 50 per cent, against 40 per cent for Tinubu. Obi and other candidates were each projected to secure five per cent.
The North-East comprises Adamawa, Bauchi, Borno, Gombe, Taraba and Yobe states.
In the North-West, Alubarika again placed Tinubu ahead with 50 per cent, followed by Atiku with 30 per cent, Obi with 15 per cent and other candidates with five per cent.
For the South-East, the APC chieftain predicted a strong showing for Obi, projecting him to win 50 per cent of the vote. Tinubu was placed at 35 per cent, Atiku at 10 per cent and other candidates at five per cent.
Obi, who is the presidential candidate of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), is expected to draw significant support from the region.
Alubarika also projected a 50 per cent share for Tinubu in the South-South, compared with 25 per cent for Obi, 20 per cent for Atiku and five per cent for other candidates.
The South-West recorded Tinubu’s highest projected performance, with Alubarika putting the incumbent president at 69 per cent. Obi was projected at 15 per cent, Atiku at 10 per cent and other candidates at six per cent.
Explaining his assessment, Alubarika said he believed the projection was about 75 per cent accurate, while acknowledging that political dynamics could change considerably before the election.
“Politics is never an exact science, and a lot can change before 2027,” he said.
He urged Nigerians and political observers to keep his prediction and compare it with the actual results after the election.
“When the votes are counted and the dust settles, come back and give me my flowers,” he wrote.
The projection is not based on an opinion poll or official electoral data but represents Alubarika’s personal assessment of the likely voting pattern ahead of the 2027 presidential election.
With the election still ahead, political alliances, party structures, candidate nominations, regional dynamics, economic conditions and other emerging issues could alter the current political calculations.
By Philippine Duru
philippineobetoduru@gmail.com
08034905774
Former Bayelsa State Governor and ex-Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Timipre Sylva, has resigned his membership of the All Progressives Congress (APC), declaring that he can no longer identify with the party.
Sylva announced his decision in a letter dated August 31, 2026, in which he expressed concerns over the direction of the party and the conduct of its leadership.
The former governor accused the APC leadership of promoting the notion that “all is fair in politics,” arguing that the principle had contributed to practices he said were inconsistent with the values he expected from the party.
He also criticised the performance of the Federal Government, expressing dissatisfaction with what he described as shortcomings under the APC-led administration.
Describing the APC as a “floundering ship,” Sylva said his continued association with the party was no longer tenable.
The former petroleum minister also copied the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) in the letter, alleging that the anti-graft agency was increasingly being used as an instrument of the APC.
Sylva’s resignation comes amid heightened political activity ahead of Nigeria’s 2027 general elections, with defections and realignments increasingly shaping the country’s political landscape.
His departure could have political implications in Bayelsa and the wider South-South region, where he remains a prominent figure in the APC and Nigerian politics.
The development is expected to trigger further reactions within the party as political actors continue to reposition themselves ahead of the 2027 elections.
KACRAN urges northern governors to adopt Buni’s economic blueprint, seeks FG’s soft loans
Swiftthinkers Essay Competition: 40 Lagos pupils qualify for next stage
KACRAN raises alarm over livestock exodus, warns of threat to food security
-
Business4 months agoNGX surges as investors gain ₦3.19tn
-
News4 months agoAPC’s budget for security jumps from #969b to ₦5.41tr
-
News7 months agoSERAP to Akpabio: Disclose officials involved in misappropriation of ₦200t from NNPC
-
News6 months agoDisquiet over whereabouts of ₦2.9 billion in key federal agencies
-
Business9 years agoThe 9 worst mistakes you can ever make at work
-
News9 years ago
These ’90s fashion trends are making a comeback in 2017
-
Business4 months agoFCMB profit hits ₦202bn on first quarter performance
-
Entertainment9 years ago
The final 6 ‘Game of Thrones’ episodes might feel like a full season