Niyi Mogaji, the African Democratic Congress (ADC) Deputy Governorship Aspirant in Oyo State, has stated that the party's internal dispute over its governorship ticket will not stop his camp from campaigning ahead of the 2027 election. In an interview with ARISE News, Mogaji emphasized that the dispute should be resolved through justice, fairness, and respect for the outcome of the party's primary. He stressed that members who participated in the primary had exercised their right to choose a candidate and that their decision should be respected.
The ADC has been divided over competing claims to its Oyo governorship ticket, with rival camps laying claim to the party's candidacy following separate primary exercises and different names submitted to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). Mogaji said reconciliation would only be possible if those challenging his camp's primary accepted the outcome and respected the decision of party members. He noted that his camp is not working against the ADC but is seeking to protect the party's internal democratic process.
Mogaji disclosed that his camp had already commenced its campaign and would continue with its activities while awaiting a resolution of the dispute through the courts. He mentioned that the dispute centres on competing primary exercises in Oyo State, with his camp's primary conducted on May 22, and the committee responsible for the exercise publicly announcing the result. Mogaji added that efforts had been made to resolve the disagreement internally, including meetings with party leaders, but that no agreement had been reached.
The deputy governorship aspirant also linked his position to existing court decisions concerning the ADC's structure in Oyo State. He stated that personally, they are not against David Mack leadership or Arebe Solas leadership, but in their state, there has been a judgment affirming a faction, and that faction conducted the primaries in line with the constitution of the party and won. Mogaji urged the ADC leadership to comply with court decisions while the dispute remains before the judiciary.
Mogaji argued that any primary conducted in defiance of a court order should not be recognised. He outlined his camp's proposed priorities for Oyo State, including job creation, agriculture, security, infrastructure, and economic development. He called for an end to what he described as indiscriminate demolition of houses and advocated greater functionality for local governments. Mogaji emphasized the need to stop demolition of houses and allow local governments to function.
Mogaji proposed the creation of an industrial corridor to attract businesses and generate employment opportunities across Oyo State. He also identified insecurity as a major challenge, particularly in areas he described as ungoverned spaces. Mogaji suggested the use of drones and other technology to monitor such areas and provide intelligence to security agencies. He expressed confidence in his camp's prospects in the 2027 governorship election, stating that they are sure of winning once they receive a personal judgment.
Mogaji's camp plans to develop agriculture as a major contributor to the state economy by encouraging farmers to process their produce before exporting it. He said they would make sure they have a great board that will make sure farmers produce and process it to semi-finished goods and export it. With these plans, Mogaji's camp aims to address the challenges facing Oyo State and create a better future for its residents.
Key points
- The ADC's internal dispute is over competing claims to its Oyo governorship ticket.
- Mogaji's camp has commenced its campaign for the 2027 election.
- Mogaji proposes job creation, agriculture, security, infrastructure, and economic development as priorities for Oyo State.
