As political activities peaks ahead of the 2027 general elections, the Special Adviser on Legislative Matters to Governor Seyi Makinde, Hon. Samuel Adejumobi popularly known as ‘Agbarapo’, has dismissed criticisms by the Oyo State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) as “a panic response” to the growing unity among opposition leaders.
Agbarapo, a former Majority Leader of the Oyo State House of Assembly, in a strongly worded statement on Sunday, said the swift and sharp reaction of the ruling party to the opposition’s resolve to field a single presidential candidate is a clear indication of deep-seated anxiety within its ranks at all levels.
Earlier, the All Progressives Congress in Oyo State, had on Sunday, described those who attended Saturday’s national summit of the opposition leaders in Nigeria in Ibadan as “clownish characters” who lacked the wherewithal to advance democracy and good governance in the country.
The party had in a statement by its Publicity Secretary, Olawale Sadare, stated that neither President Bola Tinubu nor anyone in the ruling APC would lose sleep over the gathering or what he called ‘antics of opposition elements’ “who do not even possess an iota of seriousness to defeat the incumbent president at the poll any day.”
According to the Oyo APC: “they are just wasting their time as it is just impossible for them to catch up with a man who is several kilometres ahead of them in a marathon,” the statement added.
In a swift reaction, Agbarapo said the development has unsettled the APC, which he accused of being haunted by the memory of the political realignment that led to its own rise to power in 2015.
“The criticism coming from the Oyo APC is nothing but a reflection of fear. They are rattled because they did not anticipate this level of unity among opposition leaders.
“What we are witnessing is a ruling party that has suddenly lost its composure and their immediate attacks on the move by opposition leaders is a clear evidence,” Agbarapo said.
He argued that the opposition’s move mirrors the historic political amalgamation of 2013, which culminated in the defeat of an incumbent government two years later, stressing that the current alignment carries similar weight and potential consequences.
“It is not difficult to see why they are uncomfortable. The same strategy that brought them to power is now being refined and deployed against them, so it’s normal and expected that they lose their sleep because opposition leaders have by their actions shown that they’re not joking.
“Naturally, they understand the implications better than anyone else because it’s a path they’ve walked before and they know the political implication,” he added.
Adejumobi referenced the growing grassroots momentum behind the coalition, noting that groups have begun to galvanize support across political and social lines across different states and regions.
“What you are seeing today is not just elite political alignment; it is a movement that is gaining traction at the grassroots,
that is what truly unsettles the ruling party,” he added.
He emphasized that the idea of the coalition goes beyond rhetoric, describing it as a strategic consolidation of political forces determined to challenge the current ruling party.
“The Ibadan declaration represents coming together for a common purpose. It is about setting aside individual ambitions in favour of a national objective.
“That is exactly what happened in 2013, and the outcome is part of Nigeria’s political history today,” Agbarapo noted.
He further described the APC’s immediate attacks on opposition figures as evidence of a party struggling to maintain confidence in the face of a formidable challenge.
“When a political party resorts to hurried attacks instead of thoughtful engagement, it indicates one thing, and that’s the fear of the unknown and, more importantly, fear of defeat,” he stated.
“Their response has been too quick, too sharp, and too defensive to ignore. It betrays a lack of inner stability from a popular ruling party.”
He maintained that the unity among opposition leaders is driven by a shared commitment to rescue the country from what he termed “years of declining governance,” adding that the coalition is focused on offering Nigerians a credible alternative.
“The truth is simple, and it is the fact that Nigerians are watching, and they can connect the dots. A united opposition presents a real contest, and that reality is clearly unsettling for the ruling party,” Agbarapo added.
Speaking on the theme of collective political action by the opposition leaders, he stressed that the unfolding alliance is not accidental but deliberate and calculated.
“This move by our leaders is not a coincidence; it is a conscious political direction. It reflects lessons learnt from the past and a clear understanding of what it takes to win national elections in a diverse country like Nigeria that’s almost headed towards a one-party state,” he said.
He asserted that the unfolding political dynamics could reshape the electoral landscape from the presidency down to state assembly contests, warning that dismissing the coalition would be a costly miscalculation for the ruling party.
“The signs are already there, they know this is more than a political statement; it is the beginning of a movement. And if history is anything to go by, those who ignore such signs do so at their own political detriments,” he concluded.