A chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Oyo State, Alhaji Adebisi Olopoeyan, has dismissed the All Progressives Congress (APC) flag-off rally for the Ibadan North Federal Constituency bye-election as nothing more than a music concert aimed at entertaining traders at Bodija Market.
Speaking on Saturday, Olopoeyan said the rally, held on Friday, confirmed his belief that the APC and its candidate, Olawale Murphy, would lose the August 16 bye-election.
He explained that while he had earlier refrained from predicting the outcome of the election when asked, the emergence of Murphy as the APC candidate, coupled with the fact that Minister of Power, Chief Adebayo Adelabu, is leading the campaign, has convinced him that the party’s chances are slim.
“After watching their campaign flag-off yesterday, I know they will surely lose the election come August 16,” he declared.
Olopoeyan criticized the APC’s choice of candidate and the absence of key party figures such as Senator Teslim Folarin and Senator Sharafa Alli at the rally. According to him, this indicates a lack of unity within the party.
“Oyo APC failed in its expectations even before choosing a candidate for the bye-election. Now, important stakeholders are not part of the campaign activities. They have left it to Adelabu and his team, who have never won any elections,” he said.
“It is inappropriate for someone like Adelabu, who has repeatedly failed in past elections, to be leading the bye-election campaign for Wale Murphy, who himself has lost twice. Voters will not take them or their party seriously,” Olopoeyan said
The PDP stalwart contrasted the APC’s campaign with that of his party, noting that the PDP candidate, Hon. Folajimi Oyekunle, is a former member of the Oyo State House of Assembly and enjoys the backing of Governor Seyi Makinde, as well as the goodwill of PDP leaders and members.
“With the support of Governor Makinde and the resilience of PDP stakeholders, it will be easy for Folajimi to record a landslide victory on August 16. Those campaigning for Folajimi have far more election success than those campaigning for Murphy,” Olopoeyan stated.
He concluded that with the APC’s internal divisions and lack of strong leadership in the campaign, the bye-election would be “a walkover” for the PDP.
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