In a development that has sent shockwaves through Oyo State’s political circles, the All Progressives Congress (APC) appears to have turned its back on one of its most prominent figures, Oloye Teslim Kolawole Folarin, the party’s gubernatorial candidate in the 2023 general elections.
Despite his stature as a political gladiator and his undeniable influence in APC, especially in Ibadan North Local Government, the APC has chosen to cast him aside without an appointment at the federal, recognition, or meaningful role in its ongoing campaign for the August 16 Ibadan North Federal Constituency bye-election.
This deliberate sidelining of Folarin is more than a political misstep, it is a glaring sign of the APC’s inability to put its house in order.
For a party desperate to reclaim relevance, ignoring a man who was their candidate in the last governorship election is nothing short of leadership failure.
The consequences are already visible.
Folarin’s loyal followers in Ibadan North, disillusioned by the neglect of their leader, have remained aloof from APC’s activities.
Their absence from campaign grounds has left the party’s efforts lackluster, weakening its base at a critical moment.
Meanwhile, the PDP is surging ahead with a candidate whose credentials and experience tower above those of his APC counterpart.
Hon. Folajimi Oyekunle Don, the PDP’s flagbearer, is no stranger to legislative responsibilities.
As a former Oyo State House of Assembly member representing Ibadan North Constituency 1, he distinguished himself with outstanding performance and impactful representation.
Tested, trusted, and deeply connected with the people, Hon. Folajimi Oyekunle Don brings the competence and readiness the constituency deserves, not the inexperience and trial-and-error approach of an untested APC candidate.
With the APC in disarray, sidelining its own heavyweights Teslim Folarin, and fielding a candidate with no record of public service, the path to victory for Hon. Folajimi Oyekunle Don is clearer than ever.
The August 16 bye-election is shaping up not just as a PDP win, but as an emphatic statement, A DON DEAL.
Adewale Rasheed writes from Ibadan North federal Constituency
