Osun APC Faces Backlash Over Fadeyi’s Treatment Amid Oyetola-Bashiru Power Struggle

Fresh controversy has engulfed the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Osun State following the outcome of the party’s primary election for the Osun Central Senatorial District, with angry party faithfuls and supporters openly questioning why Senator Olubiyi Fadeyi appears to have been singled out despite his visible grassroots popularity and perceived strong performance in office.

The discontent, which has continued to spread across Osogbo, Olorunda, Boripe and other parts of the district, stems from comparisons being drawn between Senator Fadeyi’s political fate and the treatment allegedly accorded to four other federal lawmakers elected on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) who later defected to the APC in Osun State.

Many party members argue that if the defected lawmakers could comfortably secure return tickets and political protection within the APC fold, there is no convincing explanation for why Senator Fadeyi should suddenly become politically expendable.

Party supporters insist that the senator’s only “offence” may be his refusal to align himself with any of the dominant political camps currently battling for supremacy within the Osun APC.

According to several aggrieved members, Senator Fadeyi is widely seen as being loyal primarily to the APC and President Bola Ahmed Tinubu rather than to any factional interest in the state.

“This is what is confusing many of us,” an APC member in Osogbo said anonymously.

“Senator Fadeyi did not fight anybody. He remained loyal to the party and to President Tinubu. So why is he suddenly being treated differently while former PDP people are being embraced and protected?”

They also questioned the leadership of the APC in Osun State in adhering to a firm directive by President Bola Tinubu that all ‘decampees’ should be accorded return tickets, which was largely adhered to with the case of the remaining four lawmakers who crossed over from the PDP but failed to do same with Senator Fadeyi, raising suspicion of double standard and an ulterior motive in the primaries for Osun Central Senatorial District.

Another party stalwart from Olorunda alleged that the outcome of the primary election may have gone beyond ordinary internal democracy and entered the territory of factional supremacy battles.

“There is growing suspicion that Senator Fadeyi is being sacrificed because of the cold war between the camp of the Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Gboyega Oyetola, and that of the APC National Secretary, Senator Ajibola Bashiru,” the source claimed.

“People are beginning to see this as an indirect attempt to humiliate Bashiru politically.”

The emergence of Adegoke Rasheed, popularly known as KRAD, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, as winner of the senatorial primary has further intensified speculations within party circles.

Several APC members believe KRAD’s emergence may form part of a broader political strategy designed to checkmate Bashiru’s growing influence in Osun politics and possibly frustrate his rumoured governorship ambition ahead of 2030.

Party insiders argue that with Bashiru being a prominent political figure from Osogbo, the installation of another influential Osogbo-based political heavyweight in the Senate could weaken his long-term structure and divide political loyalty within the capital city.

“Everybody in Osun politics knows there is already discussion that 2030 should naturally return to Osogbo,” another party source said.

“So many people believe bringing KRAD into the Senate is a calculated move to throw spanners into Bashiru’s rising political profile before it becomes too strong.”

Adding to the controversy is what many party members described as a “mysterious reversal” by the APC regarding KRAD’s eligibility status.

Party faithfuls recalled that the same APC had reportedly disqualified KRAD from participating in the primary election for the forthcoming August 15 governorship election in Osun State, only for the party to later clear him for the senatorial contest.

The development has left many supporters asking what exactly changed within such a short period.

“That is another issue nobody is answering,” a party member in Boripe stated.

“How can somebody be unqualified for governorship primary one moment and suddenly become qualified for Senate the next moment? What exactly changed about him?”

The controversy is not limited to the senatorial district alone.

Within the Osogbo Federal Constituency, similar accusations have emerged over the victory of Hon. Ibrahim Taofeeq Kayode, popularly known as ITK, who many party insiders believe enjoyed the backing of Oyetola’s political machinery.

Several members alleged that ITK’s emergence was strategically orchestrated to defeat the preferred aspirant allegedly linked to Bashiru’s camp, Prince Abdulrasheed Muideen Romeo, popularly known as Romeo.

“This is no longer ordinary politics,” an APC youth leader in Osogbo alleged.

“What many of us are seeing is a deliberate attempt to rubbish Ajibola Bashiru politically by ensuring that all his preferred candidates lose out.”

Another member warned that the APC risks creating deep internal cracks ahead of the governorship election and the 2027 general elections if urgent reconciliation measures are not taken.

“The party leadership must move quickly to address these abnormalities,” the source said.

“If not, APC may be shooting itself in the leg. You cannot continue imposing favourites on the electorate while ignoring genuine grassroots sentiment and expect unity before major elections.”

Some members also expressed fears that the growing perception of political imposition and selective treatment within the party could demoralise loyal supporters across Osun Central and Osogbo Federal Constituency.

“There is anger on the ground already,” another party faithful disclosed.

“People are beginning to ask whether loyalty to the party still matters anymore or whether survival now depends entirely on belonging to one camp or another.”

As reactions continue to trail the controversial primaries, many APC supporters in Osun are now anxiously watching to see whether the party leadership will intervene to calm rising tensions before the divisions widen further ahead of future electoral contests.