Oyo 2027: Hon Oke-Aare Aina Writes Open Letter to APC Reconciliation Committee
Honourable Oke-Aare Aina, popularly known as JEGA, a 2027 Oyo State House of Assembly Aspirant from Oluyole State Constituency, on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC), has written an open letter to the reconciliation committee of the party.
The open letter reads:”The opinion expressed did not adequately address some fundamental issues affecting Oyo APC. These concerns deserve sincere reflection if the party truly desires reconciliation and electoral success.
- Lack of a Common Rallying Point
Oyo APC presently lacks a unifying rallying point capable of bringing every stakeholder together. Without genuine unity, reconciliation becomes difficult.
- The Emergence of the “Unity List”
How did a few individuals or leaders arrive at the decision to allocate all 52 elective positions in a general election after the party has spent eight years in opposition, with weakened structures and divisions across the state? Such a decision naturally raises questions about fairness and inclusiveness.
- Who Is Truly Aggrieved?
Why does the Reconciliation Committee appear to believe that only aspirants are aggrieved? The dissatisfaction extends beyond aspirants. Many committed party members, leaders, and grassroots supporters also feel excluded from the political process.
- Responsibility for the Party’s Challenges
Why do some leaders believe that if the party loses the election, the blame should rest solely on those expressing grievances? Why not also examine the actions of those who have positioned themselves as the Alpha and Omega of a political party that is supposed to be a voluntary association governed by fairness and collective participation?
- Politics Is More Than Just Voters
The Reconciliation Committee should recognise that winning elections involves much more than the number of registered voters. Political victories are built by committed party members, coordinators, mobilisers, agents, campaigners, and loyal supporters who work tirelessly throughout the electoral process.
- The January Unity List
Why is the Committee not examining the January “Unity List” critically? It did not reflect the wishes expressed during the primaries. In many cases, those eventually selected reportedly ranked fourth or fifth among the preferred choices of party members.
How do we reconcile the genuine choices of the people with candidates perceived to have been deliberately imposed? True reconciliation must begin with acknowledging this disconnect.
A Question of Conscience
The Reconciliation Committee should honestly ask itself:
Is APC in Oyo State as popular today as it was in 2023?
Two possibilities should remain at the forefront of the Committee’s deliberations:
- The party believes it can win the election regardless of the internal crisis.
- The party ignores the warning signs and risks electoral defeat.
The Way Forward
The solution lies in genuine negotiation around the Unity List. It is neither healthy nor politically wise for one group or camp to produce virtually all the elective candidates. Inclusiveness, fairness, and broad stakeholder participation remain the strongest foundations for victory.
Even if President Bola Ahmed Tinubu (PBAT) personally serves as the Director-General of the APC campaign in Oyo State, victory is not guaranteed if the underlying issues remain unresolved. The internal challenges facing the party today are arguably deeper than those experienced between 2019 and 2023.
We have spent enough time in opposition. Let us get it right.
Oke-Aare Aina
Aspirant, Oluyole State Constituency
Oyo State House of Assembly, 2027.
