The Special Adviser to Governor Seyi Makinde on Legislative Matters, Hon. Adejumobi Samuel, popularly known as Agbarapo, has commended the successful conduct of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) State Congress in Oyo State.
He described the Congress as a landmark moment that shows Nigeria can indeed work again under the right leadership.
Speaking to westernmirror.com.ng shortly after the congress held at the Lekan Salami Sports Complex, Adamasingba, Ibadan, on Monday, Adejumobi said Governor Makinde has redefined political leadership by transforming Oyo PDP from a history of violent, faction-ridden congresses into a peaceful, transparent, and credible political structure acceptable to all stakeholders.
“What happened in Adamasingba is not just a congress; it is a statement that Nigeria can work again. We all remember the bloody factional fights and court injunctions that defined Oyo PDP in the past.
“Today, Governor Makinde has proven that inclusiveness, fairness, and sincerity in leadership can bring peace and stability. This is a template for national rebirth,” Agbarapo declared.
The former Majority Leader of Oyo state Assembly recalled that PDP congresses in the state used to be synonymous with violence and parallel sessions.
He further recalled that the 2012 and 2014 state congresses were marred by chaos, with different factions holding parallel congresses in Ibadan and other zones, producing multiple chairmen and deepening division within the party.
In 2016, a violent clash at the Greenfield Hotel in Ibadan during one of the party’s meetings left several members injured and created a prolonged leadership crisis, Agbarapo also recalled.
He added that similarly violence in 2018 during the build-up to the general elections was clouded by internal wrangling, with rival groups loyal to different aspirants organizing separate congresses that weakened the PDP’s electoral structure.
The outcome of these crises was a party deeply divided, with many aggrieved members defecting to opposition platforms.
He noted however, that since Governor Makinde assumed leadership of the state and the party in 2019, the tide has turned stressing that through deliberate efforts anchored on consultation, inclusivity, and fairness, he has united previously warring factions and rebuilt the party into a formidable political force.
“The congress at Adamasingba, where Alhaji Dayo Ogungbenro was peacefully returned as State Chairman for a second term, marked the culmination of these efforts.
“Unlike the past, there were no reports of parallel congresses, no court injunctions, and no violent outbursts. Instead, there was orderliness, transparency, and overwhelming acceptance of the outcome. It was just like a carnival and you could see singing, dancing and merriment everywhere,” Agbarapo stated.
Agbarapo emphasized that the re-election of Ogungbenro and other executive members was a reflection of the confidence members have in their leadership and the political atmosphere Makinde has nurtured.
“Governor Makinde has turned Oyo PDP into a model of internal democracy in Nigeria. Where there used to be violence, there is now peace.
“Where there was once division, there is unity. This transformation is proof that Nigeria can be better if we allow true leaders to guide our political process,” he said.
The Special Adviser stressed that the Oyo PDP congress should serve as a lesson for other states and a blueprint for the national leadership of the party as preparations intensify for the 2027 general elections.
According to him, the credibility of the congress has reinforced public confidence in the PDP as the only party capable of restoring stability and good governance to Nigeria.
He called on stakeholders across the country to adopt Makinde’s leadership style of dialogue, fairness, and inclusiveness in order to strengthen the party nationwide.
The congress, attended by Governor Makinde, former governor of Jigawa state, Alhaji Sule Lamido, and other top government functionaries, national PDP leaders, has been widely described as one of the most peaceful and credible in the party’s history in Oyo State.
He said the outcome of the Congress not only consolidates Makinde’s hold on the state party structure but also positions Oyo PDP as a rallying point for the party’s larger national ambition in 2027.
“The days of bloody parallel congresses are gone in Oyo. What we are seeing today is history being rewritten under Governor Makinde, our job now is to go deep into the grassroots to mobilize support for him because wherever Makinde goes, we will follow him,” Agbarapo declared.