The race for the All Progressives Congress (APC) Governorship Ticket has begun in earnest ahead of the 2023 Gubernatorial Election in Oyo State, with some political bigwigs inside the party already making moves to emerge as the party's Flagbearer.
Prominent among these APC Chieftains are:
1. Chief Adebayo Adelabu
Chief Adebayo Adelabu is an household name in Oyo State, especially in Ibadan, where he was born. He is the grandson of the late strongman of Ibadan politics, Adegoke Adelabu, also known as Penkelemesi. He was the APC's candidate for Governor of Oyo State in the March 2019 governorship election (APC). Adelabu is desirous of seeking the APC ticket once again, despite losing to Engineer Seyi Makinde of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
2. Senator Teslim Kolawole Folarin
Senator Teslim Kolawole Folarin Folarin, 57, rose to prominence in politics in 2003 when he was elected to the National Assembly to represent the People's Democratic Party's Oyo Central Senatorial District (PDP). In 2007, he was re-elected on the same PDP platform and served as Senate Majority Leader from 2007 until 2011. Senator Folarin was the PDP's gubernatorial candidate in Oyo State in 2015. He is the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Local Content at the moment.
3.Joseph Olasunkanmi Tegbe
Joseph Olasunkanmi Tegbe, 55, was an All Progressives Congress (APC) gubernatorial candidate in the run-up to the 2019 governorship election. The Ibadan-born is the founder of the Tegbe Foundation, a non-profit organization dedicated to helping those who are less fortunate. During the administration of the immediate past Governor of Oyo State, Senator Abiola Ajimobi, he served as the state's economic adviser. Tegbe, a well-known philanthropist, is preparing to run for the APC Governorship ticket again in 2023.
Chief Niyi Akintola, who is 61 years old, is a prominent legal luminary and politician from Ibadan, Oyo State's capital. At the Appeal Court in 2008 and 2010, the Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) secured victories for the immediate previous Governors of Edo and Osun States, as well as the incumbent Governor of Ekiti State, Adams Oshiomole, Rauf Aregbesola, and Kayode Fayemi. At the age of 50, Akintola became Nigeria's Youngest Life Bencher. He rose to prominence in politics in 1992, when he was elected as a Member of the Oyo State House of Assembly and later became the Deputy Speaker under the then-Governor Kolapo Ishola-led administration, a position he held until the military took over control in 1993.
5. Professor Adeolu Akande
Adeolu Akande, the 56-year-old APC Chieftain, is a former Professor of Comparative Politics and Communications at Edo State's Igbinedion University. He is currently the Chairman of the Nigeria Communications Commission (NCC), which is part of the Ministry of Communications and Digital Economy. Professor Akande is the distinguished son of Otu in Oyo State's Itesiwaju Local Government Area. He formerly served as Deputy Chief Press Secretary (CPS) to Former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar (2001-2002), and Chief of Staff to Late Ex-Governor Isiaq Abiola Ajimobi.
6. Senator Olufemi Lanlehin
Senator Olufemi Lanlehin, 68, is a professional lawyer who rose to prominence in politics in 2011 when he was elected to represent Oyo South Senatorial District under the ACN platform. In 2014, he switched to the Accord Party, and in 2015, he ran for re-election but lost to APC candidate Soji Akanbi (APC). In 2019, the Ibadan-born politician ran for Governor under the African Democratic Congress (ADC) platform, but was defeated by Engineer Seyi Makinde of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). He switched to the All Progressives Congress in September 2020.
Who among these Top Politicians is your preferred choice to emerge as the 2023 APC Governorship Candidate in Oyo State?