Nigerian Minister of Power Adebayo Adelabu has urged supporters of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in Oyo State to avoid clashes with rival Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) members ahead of a critical parliamentary bye-election. Speaking at a campaign rally in Ibadan North on Friday, the minister emphasized that voters should “speak with their votes” rather than engage in violence, framing the August 2025 poll as pivotal for both local representation and national political dynamics.
The bye-election, scheduled for August 16, 2025, follows the death of former House of Representatives member Musliudeen Olaide Akinremi, who held the Ibadan North Federal Constituency seat until his passing in 2023. The APC has fielded candidate Adewale Olatunji to contest the vacancy, with Adelabu stating the race represents broader stakes for President Bola Tinubu’s administration and Nigeria’s Yoruba ethnic majority. “This election is not just about [Olatunji]—it is about Tinubu and the Yoruba,” Adelabu told supporters at the Bodija International Market gathering, attended by APC leaders including state chairman Olayide Abas and former local officials.
Adelabu positioned the APC as the dominant political force in Oyo State and nationwide, calling the contest a chance to continue Akinremi’s “unprecedented strides.” He discouraged confrontations, insisting the party’s stronghold could be reinforced through ballots rather than turmoil. Analysts view the seat as strategically significant, given Ibadan’s status as one of Nigeria’s largest cities and a historical political battleground.
The event drew mixed reactions, with critics noting the minister’s dual role as a federal official and party advocate. However, APC leaders framed the campaign as a tribute to Akinremi’s legacy, urging unity among supporters. The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has yet to outline security plans for the poll, though tensions between APC and PDP factions in southwestern Nigeria have periodically flared during past elections.
Political observers suggest the contest could test Tinubu’s influence in his native Yoruba-speaking region amid ongoing national challenges, including economic reforms and power sector struggles overseen by Adelabu’s ministry. With 16 months until voting, both parties are expected to intensify grassroots mobilization in a race already framed as a bellwether for broader electoral momentum.
