Oyo APC Moves to Reconcile Aggrieved Members Ahead of 2027

The All Progressives Congress in Oyo State has stepped up efforts to settle internal disagreements ahead of the 2027 general elections, but some prominent members who were dissatisfied with the party’s governorship primary were absent from a fresh reconciliation meeting in Ibadan.

The party’s National Chairman, Nentawe Yilwatda, received the report of the Oyo State reconciliation committee during the meeting, which was attended by the party’s governorship candidate, Sharafadeen Alli, and other stakeholders.

However, former Oyo State governor and Senator Teslim Folarin, Minister of Power Bayo Adelabu, Akeem Agbaje, Hakeem Alao and former Deputy Governor Rauf Olaniyan were not present.

The absence of the major figures came as the party continued its efforts to settle complaints arising from its governorship primary and build a united structure capable of challenging the ruling party in the state in 2027.

Speaking after the meeting, Yilwatda said the reconciliation process was still ongoing and that the party would continue to engage members who were dissatisfied with developments within the Oyo APC.

He described the disagreements as an internal matter that could be resolved through dialogue, adding that the party remained stable despite the differences among some of its members.

The APC national chairman said the reconciliation committee’s report indicated that the party was making progress, but he acknowledged that more work was required to fully settle the grievances.

Yilwatda said the party leadership would consider the concerns raised by aggrieved members as part of efforts to restore confidence and strengthen cooperation among its members before the 2027 elections.

He maintained that the APC could not afford to allow disagreements among its members to weaken its chances of regaining control of Oyo State.

The reconciliation exercise followed complaints from several governorship aspirants after Sharafadeen Alli emerged as the party’s candidate for the 2027 election.

The committee, led by Femi Lanlehin, was tasked with engaging the affected aspirants and other stakeholders in an effort to understand their grievances and find a way forward.

Lanlehin said the committee had already met with all the aggrieved governorship aspirants and had submitted its findings to the national leadership of the party.

According to him, the disagreements were largely connected to the outcome of the governorship primary, with some aspirants expressing dissatisfaction over the process and its result.

He said the committee was working to ensure that the complaints did not continue to divide the party as preparations for the 2027 election gather pace.

Lanlehin also disclosed that the APC leadership was considering a meeting with President Bola Tinubu as part of efforts to find a lasting solution to the crisis.

He said the party needed to bring all its members together because allowing the dispute to persist could give opposition parties an advantage during the 2027 election.

The reconciliation committee chairman expressed confidence that the APC would overcome its internal differences and perform strongly across the state in the next general elections.

Meanwhile, Yilwatda said the party had not yet reached a formal position on the outcome of the recent Osun State governorship election.

He explained that the National Working Committee would first meet with the APC candidate and other stakeholders to assess the election before deciding the party’s next step.

The national chairman described the Osun election as an opportunity for the APC to review its performance and learn lessons that could guide its preparations for future elections.

With the 2027 elections drawing closer, the ability of the Oyo APC leadership to bring its prominent members back together is likely to remain a major test for the party.

The continued absence of some influential aspirants from reconciliation activities could also place pressure on the party leadership to address their concerns and prevent internal divisions from affecting its campaign in the state.