Indications have emerged that the camp of former Deputy Governor of Oyo State, Alhaji Taofeek Arapaja, has concluded plans to defect to the All Progressives Congress (APC) ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Akelicious gathered that the planned defection comes just days after Arapaja met with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in Abuja.
Following the meeting with the President, Arapaja reportedly held a separate meeting at his Abuja residence on Tuesday with prominent APC leaders from Oyo State to discuss his proposed move to the ruling party.
Those in attendance included the APC’s 2023 governorship candidate in Oyo State, Barrister Teslim Folarin Sharafadeen Alli, the party’s deputy governorship candidate, Mr. Adesoji Adedeji, the Oyo South Senatorial candidate, Hon. Aderemi Oseni, as well as Arapaja’s loyalists, supporters, and other notable political figures from the state.
Sources familiar with the meeting disclosed that discussions focused primarily on the modalities for Arapaja’s defection to the APC.
Until the recent developments, Arapaja and Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde belonged to the same faction of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). Arapaja has remained one of Makinde’s closest political allies since the governor assumed office in 2019.
Arapaja previously served as the National Vice Chairman (South West) of the PDP before becoming the party’s Deputy National Chairman (South). He also currently serves as the National Secretary of the PDP faction aligned with Governor Makinde.
A native of Idi Arere, Ibadan, Arapaja has played an active role in Nigerian politics since the beginning of the Fourth Republic in 1999. He served as Chairman of Ibadan South East Local Government Area from 1999 to 2002, represented the Ibadan North East/Ibadan South East Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives from 2003 to 2007, and later served as Deputy Governor of Oyo State under the late Adebayo Alao-Akala between 2007 and 2011.
The planned defection is expected to reshape the political landscape in Oyo State as preparations gradually begin for the 2027 general elections.
