By Ayenitaju Oluwaseun

AKURE, ONDO STATE — The recently concluded All Progressives Congress (APC) primary election for Okitipupa/Irele Federal Constituency appears, on the surface, to be a decisive victory for Dr. Olumuyiwa Daramola (DOD), with official results showing him sweeping the wards with 6,547 votes, significantly outpacing the incumbent lawmaker, Hon. Jimi Odimayo. However, a closer examination of the political landscape reveals a different narrative entirely.

Multiple party insiders, grassroots coordinators, and strategic analysts confirm that Daramola’s victory was not achieved in isolation. Instead, it was orchestrated through a quiet, sacrificial directive that originated from the highest office in the state: Governor Lucky Orimisan Aiyedatiwa.

At the heart of this political manoeuvring is Hon. Bidemi Joshua Obayangban, popularly known as “OC General.” His decision to yield his considerable political influence ultimately sealed the incumbent’s defeat.

The Problem: A Divided House Threatens the Governor’s Choice

Heading into the primaries, Dr. Olumuyiwa Daramola was widely regarded as Governor Aiyedatiwa’s anointed candidate. Despite the backing from the state capital, Daramola faced a formidable challenge on the ground. The incumbent, Hon. Jimi Odimayo, had cultivated a deeply entrenched support network, while Obayangban commanded a fiercely loyal youth demographic and enjoyed widespread popularity across Okitipupa and Irele local government areas.

Political analysts monitoring the race noted that if both Daramola and Obayangban pursued parallel campaigns under Aiyedatiwa’s political leadership, the pro-Aiyedatiwa vote would inevitably split, thereby guaranteeing an easy victory for the incumbent and humiliating the governor in a critical constituency.

The Directive: The Governor’s Intervention

According to well-placed sources within the party’s state working committee, Governor Aiyedatiwa personally intervened just days before the voting commenced. Recognising Obayangban’s significant grassroots influence, the governor allegedly appealed directly to his unwavering loyalty.

The mandate was clear: to safeguard the governor’s political capital and ensure the state-backed candidate secured victory, Obayangban needed to absorb the blow. He was instructed to participate in the election process while directing his core mobilisers, ward chairmen, and supporters to shift their voting strength to Daramola’s camp.

The Result: Poor On-Paper Outing, Massive Behind-the-Scenes Impact

This backroom arrangement explains the unexpected discrepancies in the final vote tally. For a candidate of Obayangban’s stature to record negligible or near-zero performance on the official result sheets defies local political logic. “OC General didn’t lose because he lacked support,” a ward coordinator in Okitipupa revealed, speaking on the condition of anonymity. “He gave his people away. He ordered his delegates and supporters to vote for Daramola to satisfy the Governor. What the world sees as a poor result for Obayangban was actually a coordinated transfer of power.”

By stepping aside and merging his political structure with Daramola’s campaign, Obayangban effectively neutralised the incumbent’s advantage. The influx of Obayangban’s grassroots voters created the illusion of a “landslide” that enabled the Ondo Election Committee to declare Daramola the official winner.

The Aftermath and the Cost of Loyalty

While Dr. Olumuyiwa Daramola celebrates his newly acquired ticket, the underlying story of the Okitipupa/Irele primary serves as a testament to the ruthless discipline of party loyalty. Hon. Bidemi Joshua Obayangban’s political capital may have suffered a public setback, but behind closed doors, he has solidified his status as a consummate team player and a steadfast loyalist to the Aiyedatiwa administration.

For those observing this political landscape, the evidence is clear: Daramola did not triumph over the incumbent on his own merit—he ascended to victory upon the shoulders of Obayangban’s silent sacrifice.

Aiyenitaju, a political analyst, writes from Akure, Ondo State.