Ahead of the August 16 Ibadan North Federal Constituency by-election scheduled for Saturday, two major power blocs within the Oyo State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) have reconciled.
Former Senate Leader and APC governorship candidate in the 2023 general elections, Senator Teslim Folarin, and the Minister of Power, Chief Adebayo Adelabu, publicly put aside their political differences on Thursday and pledged to work together to ensure victory for the party’s candidate in the by-election.
The reconciliation, which took place at a high-level stakeholders’ meeting in Ibadan, was brokered by senior party leaders and influential political figures within the state.
It was also gathered that wife of former governor, Late Abiola Ajimobi, Mrs. Florence Ajimobi and Folarin have also reconciled their political differences.
Folarin’s reconciliation with the former First Lady reportedly held in London following a directive from the presidency to all aggrieved factions of the APC in Oyo state ahead of August 16.
The party sources revealed that their reconciliation was at the instance of a direct instruction from the presidency towards ensuring a victory for the party’s candidate in the Saturday’s election.
The move, it was gathered, aimed at presenting a united front against the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), which has mounted an aggressive campaign to retain the seat vacated by the late Hon. Olaide Akinremi “Jagaban.”
Addressing party faithful after the meeting, Senator Folarin was said to have described the reconciliation as “a turning point for the Oyo APC,” and stressed that unity was the only pathway to reclaiming political dominance in the state.
Chief Adelabu, on his part, reportedly said their coming together was driven by the need to “honour the memory of the late Jagaban” and to ensure that APC retains the seat.
According to the sources, the reconciliation was the first time the duo have met face to face and embraced each other after the pre 2023 electioneering campaign when Adelabu defected from the APC to Accord party.
The meeting was attended by prominent APC stakeholders, including Senator Sharafadeen Alli representing Oyo South Senatorial District in the Senate, members of the Oyo State APC Elders’ Advisory Council, former political office holders, and grassroots mobilisers.
Party leaders assured that campaign structures would now be fully harmonised, with coordinated messaging, and a shared campaign platform.
The Ibadan North by-election is expected to be a keenly contested poll, with both APC and PDP deploying high-profile campaign teams in the constituency.