A significant upset in Saturday’s Ibadan North Federal Constituency by-election has sent ripples through the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), prompting a stark admission from a senior party figure: the path to 2027 requires urgent and substantial work.
Dr. Abisoye Fagade, the Director General of the National Institute for Hospitality and Tourism (NIHOTOUR) and a prominent APC chieftain in Oyo State, minced no words in his assessment. Speaking on Monday at the inauguration of President Bola Tinubu’s second-term campaign office in Lagelu Local Government Area, Fagade declared the victory of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate, Folajimi Oyekunle, over the APC’s Adewale Haastrup Olatunji, a clear signal of challenges ahead.
“The outcome in Oyo State on Saturday demonstrates unequivocally that we still have a considerable amount of work to do,” Fagade stated pointedly to journalists gathered at the high-profile event. “This result serves as a potent indicator for our preparations leading into the 2027 general elections within this state. We have absorbed the lesson.”
Fagade’s candid remarks, delivered amidst a gathering of the party’s heavyweights including Senator Hamzat Ademola Adeseun and several former local government chairmen and officials, underscored a palpable sense of introspection within the Oyo APC following the unexpected loss in a key constituency. Despite the sting of defeat, Fagade projected resilience: “We have been actively engaged in groundwork, and this outcome, though disappointing, underscores our seriousness. It signifies that we will return stronger.”
The location of his declaration was significant – Lagelu LGA, his own political base. “This is my local government,” Fagade emphasized, “and there was no possibility I would be absent from an event of this nature, especially following Saturday’s events.”
While acknowledging the local setback, other APC leaders at the event swiftly pivoted to project national strength and unwavering support for President Tinubu. Senator Adeseun forcefully framed Tinubu’s anticipated re-election bid as non-negotiable. “This is our paramount opportunity, and we must utilize it to the fullest extent,” Adeseun asserted. He sought to counterbalance the Oyo defeat with national by-election results: “Consider the broader picture: across 16 by-elections held nationwide on Saturday, the APC secured victory in 12. Other parties shared the remaining four. This trajectory clearly indicates where Nigeria is heading.”
Adeseun dismissed opposition criticisms as inconsequential noise and reaffirmed regional expectations: “Those making a clamour are merely deluding themselves. The Yoruba nation will rightfully complete its eight-year tenure.”
Sikiru Adebayo, the Coordinator of the nascent Tinubu second-term campaign team in Lagelu, mounted a defense of the President’s current administration. Framing Tinubu’s tenure as a necessary corrective phase, Adebayo argued, “Inherited challenges existed prior to President Tinubu’s assumption of office, and he is actively addressing them. Our mission here is to enlighten the populace on the imperative of granting Mr. President sufficient time to rectify past missteps and establish a solid foundation.”
The Ibadan North by-election result, while a single constituency race, has undeniably struck a chord within the Oyo APC. Dr. Fagade’s public concession that the party has “a lot of work to do” highlights internal recognition of vulnerabilities that must be addressed well before the next general election.
