A group within the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Oyo State, known as “The Mandate,” has fiercely condemned Alhaji Adebisi Olopoeyan’s baseless and desperate remarks about the party’s recent flag-off rally for the Ibadan North Federal Constituency bye-election.
Olopoeyan, a chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), absurdly dismissed the rally as a mere “music concert” and unwarrantedly predicted a loss for APC candidate Olawale Murphy in the upcoming election on 16 August.
In their response, The Mandate, in a statement issued by its leader, Adefoye Adewole, stated that Olopoeyan’s comments reflected a fundamental misunderstanding of the political landscape in Oyo State.
“His assertion that the APC will lose is rooted in fear rather than fact. We are energised and united, with a clear vision for the future.”
The group also questioned Olopoeyan’s credibility, asking, “What moral ground does he have to speak for the PDP? After all, he himself has stated that he is still waiting for Seyi Makinde to come and hand over the PDP logo to him for formally rejoining the party.”
The Mandate also defended Chief Adebayo Adelabu’s leadership, countering Olopoeyan’s criticisms by highlighting Adelabu’s significant contributions to the party.
“Adelabu brings renewed momentum that Oyo needs to progress,” he stated, emphasising the candidate’s capacity to lead the party to victory.
Addressing Olopoeyan’s claims regarding the absence of key figures at the rally, he remarked, “Our campaign is thriving, supported by dedicated party members and leaders. His claims of division within our ranks are unfounded and reflect his own party’s struggles.”
The Mandate group remained confident in the APC’s prospects for success, asserting that the people of Oyo State are ready for change under Adelabu’s leadership.
They dismissed Olopoeyan’s predictions as mere rhetoric from a party desperate to maintain relevance in the political arena.
