Following the communique released by APC Central Progressive Leaders after September 17th, 2026 conference, a social commentator and stalwart of the All Progressives Congress, APC, in Oyo State, Mr. Abiodun Omotosho (Babanchi) has questioned the factors that determine the membership of the above names group.
Omotosho while agreeing with some of their positions, he queried further that, categorization of ‘original’ and ‘conservatives’ APC members.
I have read with keen interest the communiqué issued by the Oyo State APC Central Progressives Conference on September 17, 2026, expressing concerns about the state of the party, the role of what it calls “REAL Progressives,” stakeholder participation and the preservation of the progressive tradition in the South-West.
I welcome every genuine effort to strengthen our party. However, precisely because I respect the progressive tradition, I believe some of the arguments deserve sober reconsideration.
The fundamental question is simple: who determines who is a “real progressive”?
Is there a register of certified progressives? Who issues certificates of ideological purity? And can a person’s political history permanently determine his political identity regardless of the values he embraces today?
Like many people of my generation, my political consciousness was influenced by the philosophy of Chief Obafemi Awolowo. The ideals associated with that tradition—free education, rural development, social welfare, agricultural transformation, human capital development and people-centred governance—remain relevant.
But respecting Awolowo’s legacy does not require us to freeze Nigerian politics in the First or Second Republic.
Political circumstances have changed, and the APC itself demonstrates this.
The APC was formed in 2013 through the coming together of political forces with different histories and backgrounds, including the ACN, CPC, ANPP and elements of the PDP. The people who eventually stood under one broom did not all begin their political journeys from the same political home.
Yet they came together.
Why?
Because the broom is stronger because it is made of different sticks.
It is therefore difficult to understand why, after building a political party from diverse political backgrounds, we should now create categories of “original” and “converted” progressives.
Political migration is part of democratic politics. Politicians change parties, parties merge, alliances are formed and individuals reassess their political convictions.
A politician should therefore not be permanently imprisoned by his past.
The more important questions are: What does he stand for today? What has he contributed to society? What capacity does he possess? Can he unite rather than divide? Can he provide purposeful leadership?
It is against this background that the recurring attempt to question Senator Sharafadeen Abiodun Alli’s progressive credentials deserves reconsideration.
Senator Alli should be assessed on his present political convictions, commitment to the APC, legislative record, contributions to Oyo State, capacity to engage diverse interests and vision for the future—not simply on where his political journey began.
Whatever one’s assessment of his record or proposals, the proper debate should be about substance, feasibility, implementation and performance, not whether someone has been granted the title of “real progressive.”
At the September 4, 2026 APC unveiling of the party’s candidates, Senator Alli described those who contested the governorship ticket against him as brothers and stakeholders in the collective struggle for the party’s victory. That spirit of inclusion is what our party needs.
I am equally surprised that, at this stage of our electioneering, some still argue that the National Working Committee has not “officially declared” the party’s candidates.
We should not confuse an internal party primary with an INEC-conducted general election. A primary is an internal process through which a party determines who will fly its flag. It does not necessarily have to follow the same ceremonial procedure of a Returning Officer publicly announcing results through a microphone.
What matters is whether the prescribed internal process was followed, whether the appropriate party organs recognise the outcome, and whether the necessary statutory steps have been taken.
The publication of party candidates by INEC is ultimately far more consequential to the general election than whether we have witnessed a particular style of internal announcement.
We should therefore stop creating unnecessary uncertainty around an issue that should have been resolved through the party’s internal processes and the subsequent statutory requirements.
The complaint that some stakeholders were not “carried along” also requires honesty.
Consultation is important. Stakeholders should be heard and different opinions respected. But consultation cannot mean that every individual has a veto over the direction of the party.
Once legitimate party organs have taken a decision, members must also demonstrate the maturity to accept collective responsibility while using legitimate channels to express disagreement.
Nobody should be deliberately excluded. But neither should the party be expected to continually suspend its collective direction because some members disagree with it.
The primary contest is over. Those who supported different aspirants should not be treated as enemies, and those who won should not humiliate those who lost.
But there must also be a point at which everyone accepts the outcome and begins to work together.
We cannot continue fighting yesterday’s battle while preparing for tomorrow’s election.
There is a dangerous consequence when political history becomes a weapon. Instead of debating ideas, we debate ancestry. Instead of discussing policies, we discuss who joined first. Instead of examining competence and performance, we argue over political pedigrees.
That cannot be the future of the APC.
Progressivism is not a family inheritance. It is not a title or political birthright. It is demonstrated through principles, service, integrity, competence and commitment to improving the lives of ordinary people.
If we genuinely want to honour Awolowo, Bisi Akande, Bola Ige, Lam Adesina, Lateef Jakande, Abraham Adesanya and others associated with the progressive tradition, we should translate their ideals into better education, stronger institutions, economic opportunity, social welfare, infrastructure, security and dignity for our people.
The best way to honour the progressive tradition is not by endlessly arguing over who is progressive. It is by practicing progressivism.
The APC must remain a broad political family, not a closed ideological club.
Long-standing members, new entrants, former members of other parties, young people, women, elders, grassroots politicians, professionals, former aspirants and present candidates all have a place in the party.
Our focus now should be organisation, unity, communication, grassroots engagement and purposeful leadership.
There should be room for disagreement, debate and criticism. There should also be room for reconciliation and collective responsibility.
The APC broom was woven from different sticks.
Those different sticks should not now be fighting to prove that only one of them is the broom.
Let us lower the temperature of our political arguments and raise the quality of our political discourse.
Let us stop measuring political legitimacy by ancestry.
Let us stop issuing certificates of progressivism.
Let us judge people by what they stand for, what they have done, what they can contribute and the values they demonstrate.
The APC belongs to all of us. Progressivism belongs to no individual. And the broom that must sweep for the common good must remain a broom of many sticks, bound together by a common purpose.
© Abiodun Omotosho (BABANCHI)
