The Oyo State chapter of Nigeria’s All Progressives Congress (APC) has elected former Deputy Governor Moses Alake Adeyemo as its new state chairman, a pivotal leadership appointment for the opposition party in a critical southwestern state. The announcement concluded the party’s state congress held on Tuesday at the Obafemi Awolowo Stadium in Ibadan, an event monitored by officials from the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
Adeyemo’s election signifies a reorganisation of the APC’s structure in Oyo, a state that remains a significant electoral battleground in national politics. He previously served as deputy governor under the immediate past administration of Senator Abiola Ajimobi, which governed from 2011 to 2019. His political base is in the Oke Ogun geopolitical zone of the state. The congress also returned Wasiu Olawale Sadare as the party’s Publicity Secretary, completing key positions on the state executive committee.
The choice of Adeyemo, a seasoned figure from the previous Ajimobi administration, is interpreted as an effort to leverage experienced leadership and consolidate the party’s unity ahead of future electoral cycles. His tenure as deputy governor provides him with established administrative and political networks across the state. The peaceful conduct of the congress, with INEC’s oversight, fulfills a requirement for maintaining the party’s formal recognition.
This leadership reshuffle occurs as the APC seeks to strengthen its position in Oyo State following periods of internal friction and after losing the governorship to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in 2019. The state is a major population centre and a bellwether for political trends in the southwest. The new executive’s primary tasks will involve internal reconciliation, grassroots mobilisation, and strategising for the next general elections.
The successful completion of the state congress and the election of Adeyemo mark a foundational step in the APC’s reorganisation in Oyo. The party’s performance in the state will be crucial for any national ambition, making the effectiveness of this new leadership a key development to observe in Nigeria’s political landscape. Further appointments to other executive roles are anticipated in the coming days.
