The shocking and unexpected loss of the gubernatorial and states Houses of Assembly election by the Oyo state chapter of the APC and the subsequent consequences of the loss should be enough to silence any political organization.
Apart from losing the gubernatorial election, the state chapter of the APC one way or the other did not get the nod of the president for a Ministerial slot.
However, rather than allow such temporary set backs to allow for a disintegration of the party, current activities within the party points to the opposite.
Oyo APC is miraculously and to the astonishment of friends and foes is waxing stronger!
The manner with which the State Exercise Committee took up the guntlet to participate in the April 2024 Local Government Election leaves no one in doubt that rather than weakening out, Oyo APC is waxing stronger.
The decision to participate in the local government election in itself is not all that special. The unique thing however is the meticulous handling of the process by a party that ordinarily ought to be in shambles.
First, a stakeholders of party leadership in the thirty three Local Governments was convoked to determine whether or not the APC should participate in the local government election and a go ahead was given by the stakeholders.
The state working committee then got to work on convincing OYSIEC to adjust Its time table to accommodate the APC to conduct Its primary election to select Chairmanship and Councilorship candidates. This was also achieved and well documented.
The party then proceeded to compiling and releasing the guidelines for aspirants and notably, revalidation of party membership was factored, obviously to give room for either fresh membership registration or revalidation of those who had for one reason or the other left the party.
This to me is one of the most commendable steps taken by the state executives.
Another beautiful step was the decision to adopt the option A4 mode of primary. This indeed eliminated doubts and conspiracy issues.
Different committees were set up to screen, conduct primary and resolve appeals arising from the primary.
The dexterity and commitment of the state executives left a lot of us in awe.
Their zeal and sacrifice is unflagging and commendable.
What gladdens the heart most of all was the enthusiasm of the party faithfuls which was visible from the large turn out in all the thirty three Local Governments.
If spirits were low, the state executives of the Oyo APC did reawaken the spirits of party faithfuls through a thorough, open and transparent process of selecting candidates for the Local Government Election and they must be commended for a near impossible task which they accomplished.
It is not in all situation that you see the kind of resurgence happening in the Oyo APC.
There have been political parties in Oyo state in the past with potentials but having lost the gubernatorial election, they either fizzle out or became a caricature of what they used to be.
If the APC dedicates the same energy and zeal It put into Its selection process to campaign for the Local Government Election proper, then the PDP is in soup regardless of the antics of the SIEC.
Obviously, success at the election next year will surely resolve a lot of insinuations and I do wish the party success.
SOLA ABEGUNDE.
