The All Progressives Congress (APC) and Zenith Labour Party (ZLP) in Oyo State have started talks about a merger in order to oust the Governor Seyi Makinde led Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in 2023.
According to reports, stakeholders from both parties met at Premier Hotel in Ibadan on Friday,
The APC group was led by Akin Oke, the chairman of the state caretaker committee, while Sharafadeen Alli, the 2019 ZLP governorship candidate led his party’s team to the meeting.
On the APC team were, Senator Teslim Folarin (APC-Oyo Central), Segun Odebunmi (APC- Surulere/Ogo-Oluwa Federal Constituency), Akeem Adeyemi (APC-Oyo Federal Constituency), Asimiyu Alarape, Mojeed Olaiya; the state APC caretaker secretary, Lowo Obisesan, Dr Olusola Ayandele, Yinka Taiwo and Olawale Sadare, amongst others.
On the ZLP delegation were, Bimbo Adepoju, Waheed Akanbi, Sherifat Tanimowo, Monisola Tegbe, Idowu Olaniyan, Kazeem Raji and Koyejo Oyetunde.
It would be recalled that the coalition of ZLP, PDP, SDP, ADC and a faction of AD produced Mr. Makinde as governor of the state in 2019.
Wale Ohu, spokesman of the APC group, said that both parties were at the meeting to deliberate on possible merger and future elections.
He said the meeting was to consult on how both parties could work together to ensure a better Oyo State.
The spokesman said the meeting was about the APC as a party which had former Governor Adebayo Alao-Akala as a member and ZLP with former Governor Rasheed Ladoja as a member.
Adeolu Adeleke, spokesperson of ZLP, confirmed the meeting, saying they were yet to make a precise decision.
He said they would in a couple of days, meet with the PDP too, saying they would belong to either the APC or PDP..
Adeleke, however, refused to comment on whether the meeting was approved by a former Governor of the state, Senator Rashidi Ladoja.
But, he stated that he would not engage in any meeting without the former governor’s consent.