Bye-Election: Keep Faith with APC – Abas Urges Ibadan North Voters As Party Candidate, Olatunji, Visits Secretariat

The Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Oyo State, Pharmacist Olayide Abas, has made a passionate appeal to voters in Ibadan North Federal Constituency to use the opportunity of the next month’s bye-election to restate their desire for good governance and quality representation by casting their votes for the party’s candidate, Mr. Adewale Olatunji, popularly known as Murphy.

Abas made this statement on Monday while receiving Olatunji at the party’s Oke-Ado Secretariat. The Ibadan-born Wale Olatunji, who was accompanied by the Ibadan North local government executive committee members and a crowd of supporters and party faithful, had come to present a Certificate of Return from the APC national Secretariat, which affirmed his status as the APC candidate in the August 16 poll.

His words: “In Ibadan North, we have a sophisticated set of voters who value the best. Since 1999, when we started this Fourth Republic, they have tested members of both the APC and PDP, with the available records clearly showing that only those voted from the progressive parties (AD, ACN, and APC) to represent the Federal Constituency at the Green Chamber performed well and even beyond expectations.

“Our departed hero, Prince Olaide Akinremi (Jagaban), whose unfortunate transition in 2024 necessitated this distasteful bye-election, raised the bar of quality lawmaking and responsible representation as he served until he had his last breath. He was from our great party (APC), and our joy at the moment is that we have another passionate man who will surpass the brilliant records of Akinremi. He is Adewale Olatunji (Murphy), and he is ready to deliver the good.

“So, we are using the opportunity to make a strong appeal to the electorate in all the 12 wards of the Ibadan North local government area, which doubles as a federal constituency, to resist the antics of deceitful political players who are now desperate to present their lackey as the successor to the late Akinremi. Ibadan North is too important to be in the hands of someone who would not have a voice on the floor of the House of Representatives on account of being from the opposition.” Oyo APC boss said.

In his response, Mr. Olatunji indicated his readiness to meet all relevant stakeholders within the party, including other aspirants who made equal attempts to get the APC tickets, leaders, and members of the party, with a view to securing their cooperation and support before kicking off his electioneering, as, according to him, the August 16 poll could only be won if they all worked together as members of the same progressive family.

“I shall be a servant to all, including party faithful and constituents, in addition to being an active member of the National Assembly if elected. I got a mandate to represent this same Federal Constituency in the 2003 general election, but some dubious characters in the PDP rigged the poll at the last minute, but I did not allow that incident to deter me from serving my people. An opportunity is here again, and we must work together to actualise the dream in the interest of all and sundry.” Olatunji added.