Fresh political intrigue has emerged in Oyo State after former Deputy Governor Taofeek Arapaja reportedly met with top All Progressives Congress, APC, leaders, fueling fresh speculation that he may be preparing to leave Governor Seyi Makinde’s political camp ahead of the 2027 general election.
According to Daily Post, the development followed Arapaja’s meeting with President Bola Tinubu in Abuja. The report said the former deputy governor met the President two days ago before hosting some APC chieftains from Oyo State at his residence in Abuja on Tuesday.
The report added that the meeting has intensified speculation that Arapaja is perfecting plans to dump the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, and join the APC before the 2027 elections. However, neither Arapaja nor the APC has officially confirmed the reported move.
Those present at the meeting included the APC governorship candidate in Oyo State, Barrister Sharafadeen Alli, the party’s deputy governorship candidate, Mr. Adesoji Adedeji, and its Oyo South senatorial candidate, Hon. Aderemi Oseni.
Several loyalists of the former deputy governor, alongside other notable personalities from Oyo State, also attended the gathering.
According to Daily Post, sources familiar with the meeting disclosed that discussions centered on Arapaja’s planned defection to the APC. Although details of the consultations were not made public, the sources maintained that the talks focused on his expected switch to the ruling party.
The Arapaja meets APC chieftains development has attracted widespread attention because the former deputy governor and Governor Makinde have belonged to the same PDP faction for several years. Nevertheless, recent political events now suggest that both leaders may be heading in different directions.
Arapaja has remained one of Makinde’s close political allies since the governor assumed office in 2019. During that period, he served as the PDP National Vice Chairman (South West) before becoming the party’s Deputy National Chairman (South).
In addition, he currently serves as the National Secretary of the PDP faction loyal to Governor Makinde.
Arapaja, who is from Idi Arere in Ibadan, has been active in politics since Nigeria returned to democratic rule in 1999. Over the years, he has occupied several key political offices at the local, state and national levels.
He served as Chairman of Ibadan South East Local Government between 1999 and 2002. Afterwards, he represented the Ibadan North East/Ibadan South East Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives from 2003 to 2007 on the platform of the PDP.
Later, he served as Deputy Governor of Oyo State under the administration of the late Adebayo Alao-Akala from 2007 to 2011.
Meanwhile, the Arapaja meets APC chieftains report has continued to generate reactions within Oyo State’s political space. Although the former deputy governor has yet to make an official announcement, his meetings with President Tinubu and APC leaders have further fueled expectations that he could formally join the ruling party before the 2027 general election.
