A fresh political crisis is brewing in Ogun State as loyalists of former Governor Olusegun Osoba has openly express displeasure over Governor Dapo Abiodun’s nominations for the newly constituted South West Development Commission (SWDC) and South-South Development Commission.
The aggrieved faction, comprising veteran APC members, held an emergency meeting at the Abeokuta GRA residence of Akinrogun to protest what they describe as the systematic exclusion of Osoba’s allies from key federal appointments.
At the heart of their grievance is the alleged sidelining of two prominent Osoba associates, former Commissioner for Finance, Durojaiye, and former Commissioner for Works and one-time deputy governorship candidate, Engr. Segun Adesegun, for the two available board positions. The group argues that these long-standing party members, who have remained loyal to the APC, deserve recognition ahead of recent defectors who they claim are being rewarded with prime appointments despite joining the party just days before the last general elections.
The Osoba camp sees the development as part of a recurring pattern where original party members are overlooked in favour of political newcomers.
They point to the case of Durojaiye, who was screened and cleared by the Senate in November 2023 for appointment as a Federal Commissioner in the Revenue Mobilization Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC), only for his nomination to be abruptly withdrawn and replaced shortly before inauguration.
Sources within the faction allege that Governor Abiodun orchestrated the last-minute substitution through the influence of former Speaker Femi Gbajabiamila.
Beyond the immediate appointments, the faction believes the governor’s actions are deliberately undermining the morale of party faithful who worked tirelessly for President Bola Tinubu’s electoral victory.
There are even whispers of a conspiracy involving a powerful “cabal” in the presidency, which they accuse of enabling what they term an “imperious display” of power by the governor.
Other notable figures affected by the perceived marginalization include Arc. Dunni Opayemi, a corporate player in Nigeria’s infrastructure development sector who once served as Director-General of Dapo Abiodun’s 2019 campaign organization and previously contested the governorship ticket in 2015.
Ironically, while the Osoba camp fumes, President Tinubu’s nomination of Dr. Charles Akinola as pioneer Managing Director of the SWDC has been widely applauded across the region. A seasoned development expert with degrees from Harvard and MIT, Akinola played a pivotal role in drafting the SWDC bill during his tenure as Chief of Staff to the Osun State Governor.
His appointment, alongside that of Senator Olubunmi Adetunmbi as Board Chairman, has been hailed as a masterstroke in driving regional development.
However, the unfolding drama in Ogun APC exposes deeper fissures over political patronage and reward systems.
The Osoba faction has issued a stern demand for an immediate reversal of the nominations, insisting that precedence should be given to experienced and loyal party members over recent entrants.
Political observers warn that if left unresolved, the growing discontent could escalate into open rebellion against Governor Abiodun’s leadership and further strain relations between the state chapter and the presidency. With the 2027 general elections already on the horizon, the crisis threatens to deepen factional divides within the Ogun APC, potentially affecting the party’s cohesion and electoral prospects.
