2027: Oyo APC Aspirants Reconcile, Back Alli, Tinubu

Four governorship aspirants of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Oyo State have reconciled with the party’s governorship candidate, Senator Sharafadeen Alli, ahead of the 2027 general elections.

The aspirants are former Deputy Governor Rauf Olaniyan, Oyedele Alao, Musbau Asanike and Dr Ololade Bakare.

They agreed to work with Alli and support the APC’s efforts to win the governorship election after a series of meetings aimed at resolving disagreements that followed the party’s governorship primary.

The reconciliation was announced on Sunday by the Chairman of the APC Governorship Aspirants’ Reconciliation Committee, Senator Olufemi Lanlehin, at a press conference in Akinyele Local Government Area of the state.

Lanlehin said some of the 11 aspirants who participated in the primary had expressed reservations about the conduct and outcome of the exercise. However, he said the committee’s discussions showed that there was more that united the aspirants than divided them.

He said the four aspirants had agreed to set aside their differences and work with Alli in the interest of the party and its chances in the 2027 election.

The committee chairman said the development demonstrated the importance of putting the collective interest of the party ahead of individual political ambitions.

He noted that winning a governorship election required a united party, adding that a candidate could not depend solely on supporters who backed him during the primary.

Following the reconciliation, the four aspirants issued a communique pledging their full support for President Bola Tinubu, Alli and other APC candidates contesting the 2027 elections.

They also agreed to cooperate with the party and its campaign structures to secure victory at the polls.

The reconciliation committee said discussions with the APC’s group of six aggrieved governorship aspirants had been concluded, except for Barrister Akeem Agbaje.

The reconciled aspirants also expressed interest in meeting with President Tinubu at a convenient time to reaffirm their support for his bid to secure another term in office in 2027.