A former governor of Oyo State, Otunba Alao-Akala who also doubles as the state’s chairman; Elders Advisory Council of the All Progressives Party (APC) has declared that APC will take over the mantle of governorship in Oyo State before the 2023 elections.

Akala made this claim shortly after participating in the ongoing realisation exercise of the party at his Sabo/Taara ward 10, Olukotun compound polling unit in Ogbomoso North local government area of Oyo state in the company of his wife Chief (Mrs.) Oluwakemi Alao-Akala and other family members.

Akala who stated this at the registration and revalidation exercise of the party which he termed as remarkable with the massive turnout seen within its first two days of commencement revealed that the party is putting “finishing touches” to the take-over process to make it a reality.

He also hinted that there would be a lot of cross-carpeting in the coming days and urged party members to welcome the new members with “open hands and make them comfortable” adding that the movement is a “part of the process needed for the takeover since the ruling PDP does not appreciate being in power.”

Addressing party faithful, Akala said: “Your unprecedented turnout for this membership registration and revalidation exercise tells a lot about your readiness and willingness to stand with the party come rain, come shine.

“You have willingly come out to identify with the All Progressives Congress without any form of inducement or coercion and which is a pointer to the fact that our great party the APC is acceptable across all divides.

“Let me now shock you, all things being equal and without mincing words, APC will be in power in Oyo state before 2023.

“And come 2023, we will still be in power God willing.

“I won’t go into details more than this but I tell you, we are putting finishing touches to the process to make it a reality.

“In the next couple of days, you will see new faces and new movements amongst open-door them with open hands, make them comfortable, it is part of the process.

Don’t fight anybody, let the process go on “smoothly, don’t feel intimidated by their coming.

“Let us gladly receive them into the APC fold since the PDP does not appreciate being in power, we will take it away from them.

“You know we operate an all-encompassing and open-door policy. And being the ruling party at the national level, the best thing for us as a state is to make sure Oyo state is also an APC state and this will soon become a reality,” he said.