The chieftains of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Oyo State, Akeem Adetoyese, and Mogaji Abiola Oyeyemi have criticized the appointment of Joseph Tegbe as a ministerial representative from the state, describing the development as unjust and demoralizing to loyal party members.
In a statement made available to journalists, they expressed deep concern over what is described as a flawed reward system within the party, particularly in Oyo State, where many dedicated members worked tirelessly to ensure the electoral success of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
They argued that the nomination of Tegbe sends wrong signal to party faithful who remained committed to the APC before, during, and after the 2023 general elections. According to them, loyalty and consistency appear to have been overlooked in favour of individuals with questionable political alignments.
“The reward system of our great party in Oyo State is becoming increasingly discouraging. We have party members who laboured 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 Joseph Tegbe neither demonstrated commitment to the party nor contributed meaningfully to its electoral victory in the state. They claimed that Tegbe had, at some point, distanced himself from the APC and even 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. This makes his appointment not only questionable but also unfair to those who stood firm with the party through thick and thin.
“It’s also on the open records that Tegbe who worked tirelessly against the party in 2023 had gotten two juicy appointments before this ministerial nomination in the same party he canvassed against.
“Also, up till today Tegbe had not registered as a member of the party and he never participated in any activities of the party most especially the just concluded renewed hope rally.”
They further 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.
Thry called on the leadership of the APC at both the 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. If loyalty is no longer valued, then we risk weakening the very structure that brought us success”.
They therefore urge the President to reverse his nomination and advise all the members of the National Assembly from Oyo APC not to approve his nomination.
