Two chieftains of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Oyo State, Akeem Adetoyese and Mogaji Abiola Oyeyemi, have condemned the appointment of Joseph Tegbe as a ministerial nominee from the state, calling the decision unjust and demoralizing to loyal party members.
In a joint statement issued to journalists, the APC leaders expressed deep concern over what they described as a flawed reward system within the party in Oyo State. They argued that many dedicated members who worked tirelessly to secure President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s electoral victory have been overlooked.
According to the chieftains, Tegbe’s nomination sends the wrong signal to party faithful who remained committed to the APC before, during, and after the 2023 general elections. They maintained that loyalty and consistency have been abandoned in favor of individuals with questionable political alignments.
“The reward system of our great party in Oyo State is becoming increasingly discouraging,” the statement read. “We have party members who labored day and night, mobilized resources, and put their reputations on the line to secure victory for President Tinubu, yet they are being sidelined.”
The APC chieftains further alleged that Tegbe neither demonstrated commitment to the party nor contributed meaningfully to its electoral victory in the state, claiming he had distanced himself from the APC and worked against the party’s presidential candidate.
“It is on record that Tegbe did not only contest outside the APC but also worked against the emergence of President Tinubu,” they said. “This makes his appointment not only questionable but also unfair to those who stood firm with the party through thick and thin.”
They noted that Tegbe has reportedly received two other “juicy appointments” before this ministerial nomination from the same party he opposed, and claimed he has yet to register as a party member or participate in any APC activities, including the recent renewed hope rally.
The chieftains warned that such decisions could breed discontent within the party ranks, particularly among grassroots mobilizers and long-standing members who expect recognition for their loyalty and sacrifices.
They called on the APC leadership at both state and national levels to reassess its approach to rewarding party members, stressing that consistency, dedication, and loyalty should remain the guiding principles for political appointments.
“This is not just about one appointment; it is about the future of our party and the message we are sending to our members,” they stated. “If loyalty is no longer valued, then we risk weakening the very structure that brought us success.”
The chieftains urged President Tinubu to reverse the nomination and advised all National Assembly members from Oyo APC not to approve his nomination.