Governors Seyi Makinde of Oyo State and Ademola Adeleke of Osun State have criticized the National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Abdullahi Ganduje, for his statement suggesting that the APC would take over Oyo and Osun states following its victory in Ondo State’s governorship election.
Ganduje, speaking in Akure on Sunday after the Independent National Electoral Commission declared APC’s Lucky Aiyedatiwa as the winner of the Ondo election, claimed the party aimed to establish political dominance in the South-West. He described Oyo and Osun as the APC’s next targets.
“Our next target now is the South-West geopolitical zone… this is Osun State and Oyo State. We will do all that is possible to bring them into the fold,” Ganduje stated.
### **Governors Push Back Against Takeover Plot**
Reacting to Ganduje’s remarks, Oyo State Governor Makinde dismissed the comments as “wishful thinking.” Through his Chief Press Secretary, Dr. Sulaimon Olanrewaju, Makinde aligned with the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) stance that Oyo residents would not abandon the “peace and good governance” provided by his administration for the APC’s “misrule.”
Similarly, Osun State Governor Adeleke, in a statement by his media aide, Olawale Rasheed, warned Ganduje against anti-democratic rhetoric. He criticized the APC chairman for undermining democratic principles and accused him of seeking to destabilize the South-West.
“Osun State is the cradle of Yoruba people where political freedom is cherished. Ganduje is a threat to democracy and an insider enemy of President Tinubu,” Adeleke said. He urged Ganduje to focus on resolving Nigeria’s economic challenges rather than plotting political dominance.
### **Opposition Parties Condemn APC’s Approach**
The PDP Deputy National Youth Leader, Timothy Osadolor, accused the APC of electoral manipulations in Ondo and Edo states, describing Ganduje’s remarks as “alarming and dangerous for democracy.” He vowed to mobilize Nigerians to resist APC’s plans to take over opposition-controlled states.
The Labour Party and the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) also criticized Ganduje’s comments. NNPP Osun Chairman Dr. Tosin Odeyemi described the statement as reckless, warning against inciting political tension. Meanwhile, Labour Party spokesperson Obiora Ifoh stated that the APC had failed Nigerians and dismissed its prospects of dominating the South-West.
### **Call for Democratic Integrity**
Opposition leaders and stakeholders have called on Ganduje and the APC to uphold democratic principles, urging restraint in political rhetoric to avoid inciting violence or creating instability in the South-West. They emphasized the need for free and fair elections where the electorate’s will is respected.
