Battle For IBADAN North Bye-Elections Hots Up

• Over Who Replaces Late JAGAGBAN

• As Gov. MAKINDE & Sen. ALLI Back Different Aspirants

The race to fill the vacuum created by the passing of Honourable Olaide Akinremi, aka Jagaban, is gathering momentum. Jagaban who represented Ibadan North Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives recently passed away at the age of 51. He was a two-term honourable under the umbrella of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Oyo State.

Though the political establishment in the state is yet to get over the shock of his sudden death, City People can tell you that the succession battle to replace Jagaban is already on. Over 50 aspirants from across political divides in the state have shown interest for the post. This is to tell you the kind of many intrigues to be expected as events unfold.

In fact, the by-election will be a big battle between the two major political parties, PDP and APC. Especially Governor Seyi Makinde who is the ultimate leader of Oyo PDP and the APC senator in Oyo South, Sharafadeen Abiodun Alli. Why? Ibadan North has always been of one the key local governments in any election as far as Oyo politics is concern. Ibadan North Federal Constituency cuts across of two local governments, Ibadan North and Oluyole. Senator Alli hails from Ibadan North Local Government. And the local government has been adjudged the largest of all the local governments in Oyo State.

So he has many things at stake as far as the bye-election is concerned. He’s the most senior elected public officer from APC in Ibadan and his local government. As an incumbent Senator, Alli would also want to prove his political relevance at the grassroot level by making sure his party deliver in the election. In fact, he can’t afford for his party to lose the election.

Not only that Alli will be actively involved in the election in terms of shopping for a credible and acceptable candidate, it’s will also serve as a kind litmus test for his own political future as well. As he’s rumoured to be interested in the 2027 guber race. But any which way, whether he will be contesting the gubernatorial race or seek re-election to the Senate, this by-election will be a great avenue for him to start preparing the grounds.

Also, Alli and his party, APC have another political point to prove as far as the bye-election is concerned. Not many people know that the late Honorable Akinremi was on the verge of dumping his political party, APC.

In fact, he has practically left the party. What was left was for him to make an official pronouncement concerning his resignation from the party before his unfortunate demise. This explained why it was the PDP that planned his burial from A to Z. Meanwhile, Governor Seyi Makinde on the other hand will also do everything within his reach to make sure his party win the bye-election. He’s firmly in control of the party structure and won’t leave anything to chance. Especially when it involves an important constituency like Ibadan North.

Apart from the fact that Makinde should deliver the election for his party, its also an open secret that he’s already consolidating on the political structure he has built over the years. He is laying a solid foundation for the next level of his political career. He is gaining more political soldiers and winning more people to his side on a daily basis.

So this election will also be an avenue for him to win more grounds. Though he has never talked about his next move after his second term as governor, but one doesn’t need to be told that Makinde sure has something under his sleeves politically.

While some said Makinde may run for presidential post come 2027, there is another rumour of him plotting to be Alhaji Atiku Abubakar’s running mate. All that of course remained speculations till he tells the general public his political plans.

-Dare Adeniran

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