A surprise visit by the 2023 governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Oyo State, Senator Teslim Folarin, to the minister of power, Chief Adebayo Adelabu, at his Iyaganku residence in Ibadan on Sunday has stirred fresh political reactions across the state.
The meeting between the former Senate Leader and the minister is widely being interpreted as a potential step toward mending fences and rebuilding political alliances ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Confirming the development, an aide to the minister, Otunba Femi Awogboro, described Senator Folarin as “an elder brother who came to visit his junior,” noting that the discussion centred on the need for party unity and reconciliation.
According to him, both leaders emphasized the importance of burying past differences and working together to strengthen the APC and position it for victory in 2027.
The visit comes barely days after Senator Folarin reportedly met with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to deliberate on the state of the APC in Oyo, further fueling speculations of ongoing efforts to reposition the party.
Folarin and Adelabu have maintained a long-standing political rivalry since 2019, when Adelabu clinched the APC governorship ticket to succeed the late former governor, Senator Abiola Ajimobi. In the 2023 election cycle, Folarin secured the party’s ticket, leading Adelabu to defect to the Accord Party to pursue his governorship ambition before eventually returning to the APC.
Observers believe the latest meeting may mark the beginning of a strategic reconciliation drive within the party as it prepares for the next electoral battle in Oyo State.
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