By Asiwaju Oladimeji
In politics, numbers are key, but they don’t materialize out of thin air. The numbers are rooted in the party’s structural machinery. Controlling the party structure means controlling the numbers. The APC in Ekiti State has consistently demonstrated this principle.
Whether you agree with their approach or not, their strategy has enabled them to navigate internal politics effectively since 1999. The party’s structure has been instrumental in producing leaders like Adebayo in 1999, JKF in 2006 and 2018, and BAO in 2022. Today, that same structure remains firmly behind BAO.
It’s quite naive to expect a signal from Abuja to alter the course of events. Recent history shows that incumbent governors like Ambode and Obaseki only lost their party’s ticket because the local party structures in Lagos and Edo States threw their weight behind other aspirants. Abuja tends to follow the lead of the state structures rather than dictate the outcome.
In 2022, we were assured that KO had Abuja’s backing, and we’d be fine. But we saw how that turned out. Abuja came and went, but the party structure ultimately delivered for BAO. Now, some of KO’s followers are repeating the same claims, saying he’s secured Abuja’s support and the ticket is his. My advice to EKO’s followers is to manage your expectations. Abuja’s influence may rise and fall, but the state party structure has a proven track record of getting what it wants, dating back to 1999.
You may want to ask, what is this structure? In politics, party members often follow influential leaders. Controlling these leaders means controlling the party’s structure and numbers. Currently, most leaders who shape party decisions are firmly supporting BAO.
If you’re looking for direct primary, just hold tight until October 27th and witness how these leaders will rally their supporters for BAO. That’s where EKO’s strategy fell short. History will repeat itself – just like in 2022, the same playbook will be used in 2025. Nothing’s changed!
