Governors Seyi Makinde of Oyo State and Ademola Adeleke of Osun State have strongly criticized the National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Abdullahi Ganduje, for his recent remarks about the APC’s plans to capture Oyo and Osun States after winning the Ondo State governorship election.
Ganduje, speaking in Akure on Sunday after APC candidate Lucky Aiyedatiwa’s victory, stated that the party’s next target was to achieve political dominance in the South-West by displacing the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Oyo and Osun.
Makinde dismissed Ganduje’s claims as unrealistic and labeled them “wishful thinking.” Through his Chief Press Secretary, Dr. Sulaimon Olanrewaju, Makinde aligned with the Oyo PDP’s statement, which highlighted the achievements of his administration and called Ganduje’s comments a distraction from the APC’s alleged failures.
The PDP argued that Oyo residents would not trade the “peace, ease, and good governance” under Makinde for the “pain and sorrow” they associate with the APC. The party further accused the APC of prioritizing state takeovers over addressing pressing national issues such as economic recovery and insecurity.
Governor Adeleke also condemned Ganduje’s remarks, accusing him of undermining democratic principles and threatening the stability of the South-West. Through his media aide, Olawale Rasheed, Adeleke stressed that Osun State’s political dynamics were distinct from those in Ondo or Edo. He argued that the state’s history of valuing electoral freedom and resisting fraud made Ganduje’s takeover ambitions unrealistic.
The PDP Deputy National Youth Leader, Timothy Osadolor, described Ganduje’s comments as dangerous, alleging that recent APC victories in Edo and Ondo were results of manipulation rather than free elections. Osadolor vowed to mobilize opposition to prevent APC’s attempts to capture opposition-led states.
Leaders from other parties also weighed in, including Dr. Tosin Odeyemi of the New Nigeria Peoples Party in Osun, who called Ganduje’s remarks reckless and divisive, particularly amid Nigeria’s economic struggles. Labour Party spokesperson Obiora Ifoh dismissed APC’s takeover ambitions, asserting that hunger and dissatisfaction with governance under the ruling party made such goals unattainable.
The ongoing debate highlights the intensifying rivalry between the APC and PDP in the South-West as both parties strategize ahead of future elections, with tensions rising over the direction of Nigeria’s political landscape.
