The leadership of the All Progressives Congress in Oyo State has endorsed Senator Sharafadeen Alli as the party’s consensus governorship candidate for the 2027 election, in a major early move to unify the party and strengthen its chances of reclaiming power from the Peoples Democratic Party.
The endorsement was ratified at a high-level stakeholders’ summit in Samonda, Ibadan, where party leaders, elders and representatives from all 33 local government areas gathered to deliberate on the party’s strategy for the next governorship contest.
The decision effectively places Alli at the centre of the APC’s political calculations as the opposition party begins early preparations to challenge Governor Seyi Makinde’s political structure.
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Former senator Ayo Adeseun, who spoke at the summit, said the decision was reached after wide consultations among party leaders and was strengthened by discussions with President Bola Tinubu.
According to him, the endorsement was aimed at building internal consensus and preventing the kind of divisions that have affected the party in previous election cycles.
Adeseun stressed that Tinubu’s position as national leader of the APC carries significant weight in determining the party’s direction.
He said the President’s preference for Oyo APC leaders endorse Sharafadeen Alli as consensus governorship candidate for 2027should be respected by party members.
Also speaking, Fatai Ibikunle, a senior APC figure and Director at the South West Development Commission, said he also consulted with Tinubu and got the same message — that Alli remains the preferred choice for the party’s governorship ticket.
Ibikunle urged other aspirants within the APC to align with the consensus arrangement, warning that internal disunity could weaken the party’s chances in 2027.
The endorsement is the latest in a series of strategic moves by Oyo APC leaders endorse Sharafadeen Alli as consensus governorship candidate for 2027 to consolidate support across Oyo State.
Weeks earlier, APC leaders in the Ibarapa zone publicly endorsed him, citing his political experience, leadership qualities and grassroots appeal.
That growing momentum now appears to be spreading across the wider party structure.
Alli’s political journey in Oyo is deeply rooted.
Before his election into the Senate to represent Oyo South, he served as Secretary to the State Government and Chief of Staff under former Governor Rashidi Ladoja.
Those roles gave him deep administrative exposure and helped build his network across different political blocs in the state.
Supporters say those credentials, combined with his legislative experience, make him one of the strongest opposition figures ahead of the 2027 race.
In his response, Oyo APC leaders endorse Sharafadeen Alli as consensus governorship candidate for 2027 thanked party leaders for the endorsement and promised to offer inclusive governance if elected governor.
He assured party stakeholders that their confidence in him would not be misplaced and pledged to work for all interests across the state.
He also thanked Tinubu for his leadership and guidance.
But the endorsement may not completely end the race within the APC.
There are indications that other aspirants may still contest the party’s ticket, especially with different power blocs still active within the state chapter.
Political observers believe the APC’s consensus strategy in Oyo reflects a wider pattern already seen in Lagos and Ogun, where the party has moved early to reduce internal conflict ahead of elections.
For the Oyo APC, the objective is clear — build unity early, avoid damaging primaries and present a stronger alternative to the ruling PDP.
Whether the party can maintain that unity through the primaries may ultimately shape its chances in the 2027 governorship battle.
