By; Awoyemi Olayinka
Oriade Local Government leaders of the All Progressives Congress (APC), led by the party chairman, Hon. Kayode Ajewole (Golo), convened a strategic meeting yesterday with ward chairmen, secretaries, youth leaders, women leaders, and political loyalists to revive political activities at the grassroots level.
During the meeting, Ajewole emphasized the need for ward executives to engage party members actively and prepare for the forthcoming local government election. He assured attendees that APC in Oriade Local Government has submitted the names of its chairmanship and vice-chairmanship candidates to the Osun State Electoral Commission (OSEIC) before the stipulated deadline.
Clearing Air on Opposition Rumors, The APC Chairmanship candidate, Hon.Benedict Ajimati, addressed rumors spread by the opposition, claiming that APC would not field candidates for the local government election. He urged party representatives to dispel such misinformation and assure members of APC’s participation.
Ajimati stated that while the party awaits directives from the state leadership, he remains optimistic about their involvement in the elections scheduled to be conducted by the OSEIC chairman, a former PDP House of Assembly aspirant.
Mr. Cole Taiwo from Erin-Oke expressed concerns over potential security threats during the election, citing previous violence allegedly instigated by the PDP. He urged party leaders to ensure the safety of members and protect their properties.
In response, Elder High Chief Emiola Ogunsanya (FEG AGRO) assured members that security measures would be in place to protect all APC members, emphasizing that the party remains a force at the federal level.
Hon. Taiwo Fatiregun, the immediate past local government chairman, commended the party elders for selecting Hon. Benedict Ajimati as the chairmanship candidate. He pledged to campaign vigorously across wards and urged leaders to mobilize members for grassroots campaigns.
Fatiregun expressed confidence that APC’s candidate would secure victory if the election holds. He stressed the need for party elders to support both chairmanship and councillorship candidates by increasing engagement at the ward level.
The APC youth leader, Mr. Wale Awe, highlighted previous security challenges faced by the party, attributing them to internal conflicts caused by former leaders like Ogbeni Rauf Adesoji Aregbesola and El-Rufai loyalists. However, he assured members that such issues had been resolved.
A women leader representative also condemned the activities of the Omoluabi caucus, accusing them of misleading party members and urging attendees to educate others to avoid falling victim to their tactics.
Hon. Kayode Ajewole appealed to governorship aspirant coordinators to maintain peace and refrain from divisive comments. He emphasized that the party must remain united as preparations for the 2026 and 2027 elections intensify.
Ajewole also urged ward chairmen to share their meeting schedules to encourage the participation of elders and local government executives.
The APC chairman concluded by appreciating all aspirants and members who contributed to the successful meeting. He called on members to continue preaching love and unity, adding that some PDP members were already disillusioned with their party and could be convinced to join APC if approached positively.
The meeting ended with renewed commitments from party leaders and members to strengthen APC’s dominance in Oriade Local Government.
