The Media Office of Oloye Saheed Oladele, an All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship aspirant in Oyo State, has dismissed as baseless a report by a group called Igba Otun urging Senator Teslim Folarin and Oloye Bayo Adelabu, both former APC governorship candidates, to step aside for Pastor Remi Oseni in the 2027 race.
In a statement signed on Tuesday by Maroof Asudemade, Director of Media and Publicity, Saheed Oladele Support Foundation, the report was described as insensitive, coming at a time when the party is still reeling from its defeat in the Ibadan North by-election held last weekend.
Oladele’s camp stressed that both Adelabu and Folarin remain respected leaders of Oyo APC, warning that promoting Oseni’s ambition at this time only risks deepening existing divisions within the party.
“Asking them to step aside through such a platform will only widen disunity in Oyo APC. These leaders are capable of making sacrifices for party cohesion, but not at the prompting of a desperate group fronting for their principal,” the statement read.
The camp noted that the by-election loss should serve as a moment of sober reflection rather than a trigger for further internal conflict, adding that unity and reconciliation are crucial for the APC to bounce back ahead of the 2027 general elections.
“Oloye Saheed Oladele’s priority remains restoring unity and cohesion within Oyo APC so that the party can return to its winning ways,” the statement concluded.
