The All Progressives Congress governorship candidate in Oyo State for the 2027 election, Sharafadeen Alli, and former Senate Leader, Teslim Folarin, on Monday closed ranks in a move to unite the party ahead of the general elections.
The development comes amid a reported rift within the state chapter of the APC, following allegations by Folarin’s camp that the governorship primary that produced Alli as the party’s candidate was marred by irregularities.
Folarin, while addressing party supporters who trooped out in large numbers to welcome him back to Ibadan on Monday, appealed to aggrieved aspirants and their supporters to set aside their differences as the general elections approach.
He declared his support for Alli and all other APC candidates in the state for the 2027 elections, urging members dissatisfied with the outcome of the governorship primary to close ranks and work for the party’s success.
He also raised Alli’s hand in a show of support at the gathering held in Ibadan, the state capital.
The PUNCH reports that Folarin was aggrieved over the circumstances under which Alli emerged as the governorship candidate of the party and called for a fresh election free of manipulation.
He was subsequently invited by President Bola Tinubu, who asked him to work for his re-election and Alli’s victory.
The PUNCH also reports that the President met with another aggrieved aspirant, the senator representing Oyo North, Abdulfatai Buhari, at the Aso Rock Villa at the weekend and urged him to work for the party’s victory in the 2027 elections.
Acknowledging the grievances within the party, Folarin said it was understandable for aspirants who had invested years in pursuing their governorship ambitions to feel disappointed with the outcome of the process.
He said, “I have invested 26 years of my life in becoming governor. If I feel cheated, am I not expected to be angry? The aggrieved members deserved to be heard and appealed to.”
He expressed concern over the pace of reconciliation efforts by a committee led by Prof Taoheed Adedoja and Senator Femi Lanlehin, among others, saying the committee had achieved only about 20 per cent of its target.
He attributed the slow pace of reconciliation to mutual grievances, adding that the approaching elections made it imperative for party leaders to resolve their differences and work together.
Folarin said he had met with former Minister of Power, Adebayo Adelabu; Buhari; and former deputy governor, Rauf Olaniyan, at Iyaganku, Ibadan, as part of efforts to address the crisis.
He urged party members to align with Alli, effective Monday, stressing that President Tinubu’s appointment of him as coordinator of the Oyo State Presidential Campaign Council required him to work for the success of all APC candidates in the state.
“The party must increase the votes it secured for Tinubu in Oyo during the 2023 presidential election, while also ensuring that APC governorship and legislative candidates emerge victorious in 2027,” he said.
Folarin also called for a review of the party’s reward system, insisting that members who worked for its success should benefit from their contributions rather than be overlooked.
He urged Alli to work with party leaders to accommodate aggrieved members, adding that experienced politicians should not be sidelined in the reconciliation process.
“We won’t allow Alli to rest until all aggrieved members get their own benefits,” Folarin insisted.
He further urged party leaders and supporters to leave the gathering and spread the message that efforts were being made to resolve the crisis, stressing that little time remained before the elections.
Recall that Folarin, alongside Adelabu, Buhari, Olaniyan and other aggrieved chieftains of the party had been engaged in rallying support for Tinubu’s re-election while distancing themselves from supporting Alli in his governorship bid.