…Cracks deepen in Oyo APC as top gladiators meet over Tinubu’s 2027 re-election bid
Fresh indications of widening cracks within the Oyo State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) have emerged following a strategic meeting of some of the party’s leading figures to discuss plans for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s re-election in the 2027 general election leaving out the party’s governorship candidate, Senator Sharafadeen Abiodun Alli.
The meeting, held on Wednesday evening, brought together former Deputy Governor of Oyo State, Engr. Rauf Olaniyan; Senator Abdulfatai Buhari; Minister of Power, Chief Adebayo Adelabu; and former Oyo Central Senator, Teslim Folarin.
According to an inside after the meeting, the leaders deliberated on strategies to mobilise support across the state for President Tinubu’s second-term ambition.
“His Excellency Engr. Rauf Olaniyan, Distinguished Senator Abdulfatai Buhari, Chief Adebayo Adelabu and I met this evening to deliberate on strategies for working closely with other stakeholders of our great party to ensure the successful delivery of Oyo State for President Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu in the 2027 general election,” the statement read.
However, the meeting has stirred fresh conversations within the party, as Senator Sharafadeen Abiodun Alli, the APC’s 2027 governorship candidate in the state, as well as the party’s National Assembly and State House of Assembly candidates in the last election, were absent.
Party sources told Goalpoachernews that the composition of the meeting has reinforced concerns over widening divisions within the Oyo APC, fuelling speculation over the party’s leadership dynamics ahead of the 2027 governorship race.
An insider, who spoke to Goalpoachernews on condition of anonymity, claimed that: “The gladiators have resolved to work together again ahead of the 2027 elections. We want the re-emergence of our President, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu and we want someone who will not betray and fail to honour the agreement reached by the leaders, President Tinubu is our major task in Oyo, not anything else” the source alleged.
The source added that one of the party’s senior figures (former Senator) had earlier been mandated to reconcile aggrieved factions within the APC and had successfully carried out the assignment, but alleged that subsequent actions by some stakeholders in Abuja and a monarch undermined the understanding reached.
According to the source, former Senate Leader Teslim Folarin, Minister of Power Adebayo Adelabu, Senator Abdulfatai Buhari and former Oyo First Lady, Mrs. Florence Ajimobi, have now closed ranks in what party insiders described as a significant political realignment ahead of the 2027 elections mainly for Tinubu’s re-election.
Meanwhile, efforts to obtain reactions from Senator Sharafadeen Alli and the Oyo State APC leadership were unsuccessful as of the time of filing this report.
