Zacch Adedeji Can’t Reserve Deputy Governorship Slot For His Brother, Group Writes Tinubu

IBADAN – Some aggrieved members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Oyo State, under the umbrella of the Aggrieved Aspirants of Oyo APC on Sunday urged President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to caution the Executive Chairman of the Nigeria Revenue Service (NRS), Dr. Zacch Adedeji for allegedly interfering in the politics, rather than focusing on his primary responsibility of generating revenue for the country.

The group described him as an emergency godfather, who was aimed at destroying the state chapter of the party.

Aggrieved Aspirants of Oyo APC in an open letter dated 10th of April 2026 and signed by its chairman, Otunba Daniel Mogbonjubola Alalade frowned at the decision of Dr. Zacch Adedeji retaining the Deputy Governorship Slot for his younger brother, Soji Adedeji without the input of the local leaders of the party.

The group also alleged that it was rumoured that a former head of service in the state, Mrs. Hannah Ogunesan has been handpicked for Oyo North Senatorial District and Hon Remi Oseni, the current House of reps member representing Ido-Ibarapa federal constituency for Oyo south senatorial district.

Not only that, Zacch was alleged for also nominating all the 14 House of Representatives candidates and 32 house of Assembly candidates in defiance to other party leaders and tendencies in Oyo APC.

The group asked Tinubu to call Dr. Zacch Adedeji to order and advise him to focus more on his vital national assignment at the NRS and stop interfering in the delicate candidate selection process in Oyo state.

​The aspirants also called for an urgent meeting of all genuine Oyo APC stakeholders—convened by neutral leaders—to find a path forward that everyone can support.
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Other demands of the group include; transparent primaries or a genuine, inclusive consensus process, which will make candidates have the “breath of the people” behind them and a clear line between holding a federal position and running a state party.

The letter reads in full: “OPEN LETTER TO PRESIDENT BOLA AHMED TINUBU: An Urgent Appeal for the Soul of Oyo APC

​”Your Excellency,
​We write to you today not just as members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Oyo State, but as brothers and sisters in the progressive struggle who are deeply worried about the house we have built together.

​”While political textbooks warn us about the dangers of “one-man rule,” we are seeing those warnings play out in real-time on the streets of Ibadan, Ibarapa, Ogbomoso, Oke Ogun and Oyo. Our party is standing at a crossroads. One path leads to a united front and victory; the other—the path we are currently being pushed down—leads toward an electoral disaster that will not only cost us the state but could damage your own mandate and the party’s future nationwide.

“​The Rise of the “Emergency Godfather”
​The strength of the APC has always been its roots—the people at the grassroots who believe in our vision. However, that foundation is being shaken. Dr. Zacch Adedeji, the Executive Chairman of the Nigeria Revenue Service (NRS), has moved from being a federal appointee to acting as an “emergency godfather.”
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“Unlike the leaders who spent decades building bridges and earning the trust of the people, this new approach relies on federal influence to bypass the very people who do the hard work of winning elections. When internal democracy dies and decisions are made in backrooms instead of through consensus, the party loses its soul.
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“The Pattern of Disruption
​We want to bring to your attention specific actions that are tearing the fabric of our state chapter apart:

The Deputy Governorship Slot: Rumors are rife that Dr. Adedeji has already “reserved” the Deputy Governor ticket for his brother, Soji Adedeji. This isn’t just about family ties; it’s about fairness. To reclaim Oyo from the PDP, we need a ticket that reflects the diverse interests of our people, not one that looks like a family business.

“​Imposing Candidates: From the Oyo South Senatorial District to Oyo North, candidates like Hon. Remi Oseni and Mrs. Hannah Ogunesan are being handpicked without the input of local leaders. When we sideline loyal aspirants who have the popularity to win, we aren’t just being unfair—we are being self-destructive.

“​The Math of Defeat: Why This Matters to You
​Your Excellency, Oyo State is one of the most sophisticated political environments in Nigeria. Governor Seyi Makinde is a formidable opponent with deep pockets and strategic projects. To beat him, we need a “Coalition of the Willing,” not a “Coalition of the Bitter.”

“​If our members feel cheated, they will stay home. If our grassroots leaders feel ignored, they won’t mobilize. This creates a “reverse coattail effect.” If the state party collapses into infighting, it won’t just be the Governor’s seat we lose—it will be the Senate, the House, and ultimately, the massive voter turnout that your presidency relies on in the Southwest.

“We cannot afford to hand the PDP a victory because we were too busy fighting ourselves.

​”Learning from History. ​We have seen this movie before. In 2015, the PDP lost power because they stopped listening to their own members and started imposing candidates. We saw how “federal might” failed to save parties in the past when the local people felt betrayed. We don’t want the Oyo APC to become a cautionary tale of how a great party destroyed itself from within.

​”Our Humble Prayer: ​We believe you are the only one who can steady this ship. We are asking for four simple things:

​”A Call to Order: Dr. Adedeji should be advised to focus on his vital national assignment at the NRS and stop interfering in the delicate candidate selection process in Oyo.

“A Seat at the Table: We need an urgent meeting of all genuine Oyo APC stakeholders—convened by neutral leaders—to find a path forward that everyone can support.