A war of words has erupted between assumed to be chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Oyo State, Alhaji Adebisi Olopoeyan, and the “Progressive Think-Tank” group within the All Progressives Congress (APC) over the August 16 Ibadan North Federal Constituency bye-election.
Olopoeyan had earlier mocked the APC’s campaign flag-off rally held on Friday at Bodija Market, dismissing it as “nothing more than a music concert to entertain traders” and predicting an easy victory for the PDP candidate, Hon. Folajimi Oyekunle.
The PDP stalwart said the choice of Hon. Adewale Olatunji Murphy as the APC candidate, coupled with the fact that Minister of Power, Chief Adebayo Adelabu, is leading the campaign, guaranteed the APC’s defeat.
“After watching their campaign flag-off yesterday, I know they will surely lose the election come August 16,” Olopoeyan said, describing both Adelabu and Murphy as “serial losers.” He also noted the absence of key APC leaders like Senator Teslim Folarin and Senator Sharafa Alli from the rally, claiming it signaled deep divisions in the party.
But in a swift rebuttal, the APC-aligned “Progressive Think-Tank” group fired back, branding Olopoeyan a “shameless politician” whose comments were “unguarded and reckless.”
IBADAN NORTH: Olopoeyan Mocks APC Flag-off, Says August 16 Bye-election Will Be a Walkover for PDP
In a statement signed by its chairman, Akinwale Alaba, the group said:
“Olopoeyan is not a PDP member and does not attend PDP meetings, so he has no right to speak for the party. He has never contested an election in his life, yet he dares to label respected figures like Adelabu and Murphy as ‘serial losers.’ Adelabu has achieved far more than Olopoeyan in all ramifications. Calling him a loser shows Olopoeyan is out of his senses.”
The group further alleged that Olopoeyan often speaks publicly only to attract Governor Seyi Makinde’s attention “whenever he is hungry and needs money,” and accused him of having “no good record” and being “known for fraudulent activities.”
They advised him to “stay away from Ibadan politics” if he has no genuine stake, telling him instead to “return to his hometown in Okitipupa” if he wishes to play politics there.
“It is clear that the success of yesterday’s APC flag-off rally has unsettled him,” the group added, challenging Olopoeyan to contest an election if he thinks winning is easy. “Even Governor Makinde lost several elections before finally becoming governor,” the statement concluded.
With both sides refusing to back down, the exchange has intensified political tension ahead of Saturday’s bye-election, where the APC’s Murphy and the PDP’s Oyekunle will go head-to-head for the Ibadan North Federal Constituency seat.
