The African Democratic Congress (ADC) will produce the next governor of Oyo State, a chieftain of the party, Chief Niyi Aborisade, has declared, expressing confidence in the party’s prospects despite its internal leadership crisis.

Aborisade said the party remained popular in the state and was working towards resolving its internal disagreements, including through an out-of-court settlement, even as the dispute awaits a court ruling.

“The ADC is the most popular party in Oyo State, although beset with internal struggle. The matter is in court, and we are expecting a ruling very soon. Notwithstanding that, we are still working towards settlement out of court,” he said.

He expressed confidence that Dr Gbemileke Alagbe, popularly known as Eleniyan, would emerge as the next governor of the state under the ADC platform.

Aborisade also questioned the readiness of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Allied Peoples’ Movement (APM) for the 2027 governorship election, arguing that their political structures did not necessarily translate into widespread popular support.

He attributed the APC’s national profile to its control of the Federal Government, while describing the APM as a party controlled by the incumbent governor of Oyo State, Seyi Makinde.

The ADC chieftain criticised what he described as Makinde’s domineering influence in the state and warned that a continuation of the governor’s political approach would be damaging to Oyo State.

He also questioned the preparedness of the APC governorship candidate, Senator Sharafadeen Alli, to assume the governorship, alleging that the party had yet to resolve its internal problems in the state.

On the state’s finances, Aborisade raised concerns over what he described as unprecedented borrowing and a lack of transparency under Makinde’s administration.

He specifically questioned the ₦100 billion loan, which he said was troubling given the timing, with the governor approaching the end of his tenure.

Aborisade also alleged that the state government had not adequately demonstrated the impact of federal allocations and other revenues on residents’ lives. He criticised the state legislature, alleging that it had failed to provide sufficient scrutiny of the executive.

The ADC chieftain said his party would seek to hold the present administration accountable for its decisions if it gained power.

On the possibility of a united opposition ahead of the 2027 general election, Aborisade expressed pessimism, arguing that personal interests among political actors could undermine efforts to form a common front.

“I can’t foresee any unity now, but there can be alignment after the presidential election,” he said, adding that divisions among opposition parties could lead to vote-splitting.

He maintained, however, that a broad opposition coalition might not be essential to winning an election, arguing that voters who do not belong to political parties would play a significant role in determining the outcome.

According to him, the ADC believes it can appeal to such voters by presenting programmes that respond to their needs.

On policy, Aborisade said the party intended to address economic hardship, insecurity and unemployment, including through measures to cushion the effects of petrol subsidy removal and create employment opportunities, particularly for young people.

He blamed the failure to provide adequate jobs for contributing to rising crime and other social problems, promising that an ADC-led government would pursue employment-generating policies.

Aborisade said the party had already articulated its programmes and was confident that voters would support the platform they believed could best address their concerns.