Oyo Prepares for August 16 Ibadan North Bye-Election

As the 2027 general elections draw closer, the forthcoming bye-election in Ibadan North Federal Constituency is shaping up to be a key test of strength for the All Progressives Congress (APC), Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), and other political parties in Oyo State.

Scheduled for Saturday, August 16, 2025, the election will fill the seat left vacant by the death of Hon. Musliudeen Olaide Akinremi, a two-term APC lawmaker who passed away in July 2024 at the age of 51. The vote will be conducted across the constituency’s 12 wards, covering 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.

Although 19 political parties initially signaled interest, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has cleared only five candidates for the contest. They are: Dexter Femi Akin-Alamu (African Democratic Congress, ADC), Adewale Haastrup Olatunji (APC), Olabisi Olajumoke Odususi (All Progressives Grand Alliance, APGA), Fola Sunday Oyekunle (PDP), and Hammed Badmus (Zenith Labour Party, ZLP). INEC did not disclose why the number was reduced.

At a stakeholders’ meeting in Ibadan, Oyo REC Dr. Adeniran Tella reaffirmed INEC’s readiness to deliver a credible and peaceful poll, noting that some non-sensitive materials had already arrived, while sensitive materials would follow 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,” he said.

Campaigns are in full swing, with major parties mobilising their supporters. At the PDP flag-off in Bodija International Market, Governor Seyi Makinde declared that Oyo “belongs to the PDP,” urging voters to prove it at the polls. He described the party’s candidate as a former State House of Assembly member and his Deputy Chief of Staff, chosen for his track record and capacity to deliver in Abuja.

On the APC side, State Chairman Olayide Abas appealed to voters to maintain the “progressive” tradition of the constituency. He praised the late Akinremi’s record and expressed confidence that APC candidate Adewale Olatunji would surpass it. Abas urged residents to resist “deceitful political players” and warned against sending a representative from the opposition, arguing that Ibadan North needed a strong voice in the House of Representatives.

With just days to go, the race has intensified, setting the stage for a high-stakes political showdown in one of Oyo State’s most politically strategic constituencies.