Oyo APC Congress: Oke-Ogun Rejects Zoning Of Party Chairmanship To Region, Insists On 2027 Governorship
•By OYENIYI AWOJOODU
IBADAN — A socio-political group in Oke-Ogun, Ẹgbẹ́ Àjọṣepọ̀ Fún Ìtẹsiwájú Gbogbo Wa, has rejected the zoning of the All Progressives Congress (APC) state chairmanship to the Oke-Ogun region, insisting instead that the zone should be considered for the 2027 governorship seat in Oyo State.
Addressing journalists at a press briefing held at the House of Chiefs, the group declared that Oke-Ogun would no longer accept what it described as “token political compensation” in place of the governorship position.
In a statement jointly signed by its National Chairman, Engr. Dauda Olaifa, and National Secretary, Pastor Favour Adewoyin, the association argued that Oke-Ogun has historically produced a disproportionate number of party chairmen and deputy governors since 1999, yet has never produced a governor.
The group in a copy of the statement made available to journalists in Ibadan on Wednesday listed several chairmen of the AD/APC and PDP who hail from the region, including Chief Michael Koleoso (Saki), Chief David Adesola (Igbòho), Hon. Isaac Omodewu (Otu), and most recently, Chief Moses Alake, a former Deputy Governor, who was appointed APC State Chairman on March 3, 2026.
According to the association, Alake’s emergence marks the eighth time the position has been occupied by an indigene of Oke-Ogun, while other zones in the state have held the office only once or twice within the same period.
Similarly, the region has produced five deputy governors, including Engr. Hammed Gbadamosi, Barr. Iyiola Oladokun, Engr. Rauf Olaniyan, Chief Moses Alake, and the incumbent, Barr. Bayo Lawal.
Despite what it described as significant contributions to the political structure of the state, the group lamented that the governorship seat has consistently eluded Oke-Ogun.
Citing figures from the 2006 national census, the association noted that Oke-Ogun has a population of 1,498,325 largely indigenous making it one of the largest indigenous blocs in the state.
By comparison, Ibadan, with a population of 2,559,853, was described as largely cosmopolitan.
“For decades, Oke-Ogun and other marginalised regions have endured exclusion and political neglect,” the statement read.
The group reiterated its long-standing campaign slogan:
“No to Deputy Governor. No to Party Chairman. No to tokenism. Yes to Governor.”
The association argued that whenever Oke-Ogun is allotted the deputy governorship or party chairmanship, it effectively blocks the region’s path to securing the governorship ticket.
The statement referenced the emergence of Hon. Dayo Ogungbenro as PDP chairman in 2021, noting that it was speculated he would resign if the party zoned the governorship to Oke-Ogun. The group suggested that the APC’s current zoning arrangement follows a similar pattern.
While acknowledging precedents in other states where party chairmen and governors emerged from the same zone, the group expressed skepticism, alleging that “underground scheming and financial inducements” have historically influenced zoning decisions in Oyo State.
The association declared that it would support any political party willing to zone its 2027 governorship ticket to Oke-Ogun.
It reaffirmed its support for the second-term agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu but stressed that such support remains “patriotic, principled, and conditional.”
The group according to the press release stated that among the potential governorship aspirants from the region are; Barr. Abdul-Raheem Bayo Shittu; Engr. Rauf Olaniyan; Dr. Gbenga Adegbola;Dr. Muyiwa Gbadegesin; Dr. Kazeem Ayandoye.
The group concluded by stating unequivocally that Oke-Ogun rejects the zoning of the APC state chairmanship to the region and will continue to mobilise politically until its governorship aspiration is realised.