Oyo bye-election: PDP, APC clash as five candidates battle for Ibadan North seat

With the 2027 general elections on the horizon, the forthcoming bye-election in Ibadan North Federal Constituency has become a political litmus test for Nigeria’s major parties — the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the All Progressives Congress (APC) — alongside other contenders seeking to prove their influence in Oyo State.

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has fixed the election for Saturday, August 16, 2025, to fill the vacant House of Representatives seat left by the late Hon. Musliudeen Olaide Akinremi, who died in July 2024 at the age of 51 while serving his second term. Akinremi, fondly called “Jagaban”, was a member of the APC and widely regarded for his grassroots connection and legislative impact.

Although INEC initially announced that 19 political parties expressed interest, the final list released by its national secretariat in Abuja contains only five cleared candidates: Dexter Femi Akin-Alamu – African Democratic Congress (ADC); Adewale Haastrup Olatunji – All Progressives Congress (APC); Olabisi Olajumoke Odususi – All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA); Fola Sunday Oyekunle – Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and Hammed Badmus – Zenith Labour Party (ZLP)

The election will be conducted across all 12 electoral wards in Ibadan North, covering key areas such as Bodija, Sango, Mokola, Ijokodo, Yemetu, Oke Aare, Oke Aremo, Oke Sapati, Inanlande, Oke Itunu, University of Ibadan, The Polytechnic Ibadan, Agbowo, Beere, Oje, Agodi Gate, Ikolaba, Bashorun, Idi Ape, Samonda, Okoro, and Sabo.

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Campaign activities have intensified, with candidates canvassing from ward to ward and door to door. The ruling PDP officially flagged off its campaign at Bodija International Market, where Governor Seyi Makinde presented the party’s flag to its candidate, Fola Oyekunle, a former Oyo State House of Assembly member and current Deputy Chief of Staff to the governor.

Makinde told supporters that victory would reaffirm PDP’s dominance in the state.

“This election is a statement. We must prove that Oyo State belongs to the PDP. Our candidate has a proven track record and will not disappoint if elected to represent Ibadan North in Abuja,” he declared.

On the opposition side, APC State Chairman, Pharmacist Olayide Abas, urged voters to return the seat to the “progressive fold,” citing the late Akinremi’s exemplary service.

“Our candidate, Adewale Olatunji, is ready to build on Akinremi’s legacy. Ibadan North deserves a strong voice in the National Assembly, not a muted representative from the opposition,” Abas said.

Oyo State Resident Electoral Commissioner, Dr. Adeniran Tella, has reassured voters and stakeholders of a free, fair, and credible process. Speaking at a stakeholders’ meeting in Ibadan, he revealed that some non-sensitive materials had already been delivered, while sensitive materials would arrive before election day.

“The success of this bye-election rests on our collective commitment to fairness, transparency, and inclusivity. Let us make this a model for future elections,” Tella said.

With less than a week to the polls, political mobilisation, strategic alliances, and grassroots persuasion are expected to intensify, making the August 16 vote not just a constituency contest but a symbolic battle ahead of the 2027 national showdown.