Oyo APC’s ‘Emergency Elders’: Where Have These Veterans Been All These Years?
Before the 2027 general election, the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Oyo State has once again turned to its old guard in a fresh bid to heal lingering internal divisions threatening the party's chances of returning to power.
The party recently constituted a 14-member Reconciliation Committee headed by former governorship aspirant Senator Olufemi Lanlehin and former Minister of Sports Professor Taoheed Adedoja as co-chairmen. Other notable members include Chief Mrs. Oluwakemi Alao-Akala, Senator Hosea Ayoola Agboola, Senator Brimo Yusuf, Dr. Ismail Adebayo Adewusi, Rt. Hon. Olagunju Ojo, Pa Timothy Jolaoso and several other respected party elders.
According to the party leadership, the committee has been tasked with reconciling aggrieved members, rebuilding trust across various factions and strengthening party cohesion ahead of the 2027 elections. The move comes as the APC intensifies efforts to reclaim Oyo State after years in opposition, with its governorship candidate, Senator Sharafadeen Alli, repeatedly emphasizing that unity remains the party's strongest path to electoral victory.
However, the announcement has generated mixed reactions among party faithful and political observers.
For many supporters, the immediate question is straightforward: Where have these respected elders been throughout the years when the party was battling one internal crisis after another? Critics argue that many of the newly appointed committee members have remained largely silent while divisions deepened, only resurfacing now that another election cycle is approaching.
The skepticism is also fueled by history.
Observers recall that a similar reconciliation initiative was launched in 2022 with the objective of mending internal disagreements. Despite the committee's efforts at the time, factional disputes persisted, defections continued, and the APC failed to achieve the level of unity many members had anticipated.
One party supporter expressed the frustration shared by several members:
> "What happens to the initiative launched in 2022? They failed to tell the truth to those in authority, and that is why we are where we are today. If we keep repeating the same approach without learning from past mistakes, we'll keep getting the same outcome. Let's apply basic management principles and get it right this time."
Another member questioned the timing of the exercise, suggesting that reconciliation should naturally follow a period of conflict rather than precede it.
> "Why are you people always in a hurry? You haven't even started the fight, yet you're already looking for people to end it."
These reactions underscore the lingering distrust among sections of the party, many of whom believe that genuine reconciliation requires more than simply appointing respected names to a committee. They argue that successful conflict resolution must involve honest engagement with aggrieved stakeholders, fairness in decision-making, transparent leadership and the willingness to address the root causes of previous disputes rather than merely managing their consequences.
Political analysts also note that reconciliation committees have become common features within Nigerian political parties, especially as election seasons approach. While such committees can play important roles in restoring confidence and reducing tensions, their success often depends on whether party leaders are prepared to implement difficult recommendations rather than treating reconciliation as a symbolic exercise.
For Oyo APC, the stakes are particularly high. After remaining outside the state's seat of power for two consecutive terms, party leaders believe that internal unity is essential if the APC hopes to mount a serious challenge in 2027. Whether this newly constituted committee succeeds where previous efforts struggled remains to be seen.
For now, many members appear willing to give the elders another opportunity—but they are equally demanding visible results instead of another round of meetings, communiqués and promises. The real test will not be the inauguration of the committee but whether it can bridge longstanding divisions and transform reconciliation from a recurring political slogan into a lasting reality.
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