Oyo APC zones elective offices as stakeholders express reservation

Ahead of tomorrow’s state congresses of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), Oyo State chapter has proposed a zoning formula that Oke-Ogun Constituency I should produce the state chairman, senatorial youth leader, assistant financial secretary and assistant welfare officer in the coming executive.

The proposal was made at a meeting held by former Governor Adebayo Alao-Akala, out-going Caretaker Committee Chairman, Mr. Akin Oke and the seven zonal leaders, who were mandated to resolve the zoning crisis.

After long hours of discussion at the Alao-Akala’s residence in Ibadan on Wednesday night, it was also proposed that Oke-Ogun Constituency II should produce state organising secretary, state legal adviser, deputy youth leader (North), senatorial women leader, deputy state women leader and ex-officio.

The communique released after the meeting also proposed that Ogbomoso zones should produce state youth leader, state financial secretary, senatorial chairman, state assistant auditor, senatorial women leader and ex-officio.

The leaders proposed that the state secretary, state auditor, assistant organising secretary and assistant state Public Relations Officer (PRO) should be produced by the Oyo Zone while deputy state chairman, state welfare officer, senatorial youth leader (South) and assistant treasurer should be zoned to Ibarapa Constituency.

The leaders also resolved that all elective positions, especially governor, deputy governor and senators in 2023 are open to all the 33 local councils. All the leaders signed the new template that will produce state executive.

MEANWHILE, some aggrieved members of the party have expressed reservation over the zoning arrangement. Those who spoke in confidence with The Guardian said they hope the arrangement was not deliberately made to weaken the APC’s platform to allow Governor Seyi Makinde have easy ride to second term.

It was also discovered that most elders who endorsed the proposals did so because they were compelled and would not want to be perceived as rebels in the party.

Efforts to speak with former Minister of Communication, Adebayo Shittu and Minister of Youths Sports Development, Mr. Sunday Dare, failed as they didn’t pick their calls or reply text messages.