Oyo APC faces internal crisis as aspirants protest imposed candidate

…demand credible primary

By Adeola Badru

Governorship aspirants of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Oyo State announced yesterday that they will oppose any effort to impose a candidate ahead of the party’s 2027 governorship primary, insisting that the process must be guided by due process, fairness and internal democracy.

The statement was released following a high‑level meeting in Ibadan.

While the aspirants said they are not against the idea of a consensus candidate, they emphasized that such a consensus must be reached through a transparent, credible and democratic procedure.

Attendees at the meeting included former Oyo State Deputy Governor Rauf Olaniyan, Barrister Akeem Agbaje, Oyedele Hakeem Alao, Prince Musibau Asanike and Dr Ololade Usman Bakare.

The aspirants reiterated their loyalty to President Bola Tinubu and to the APC leadership, pledging continued support for the party at both state and national levels.

They added that whichever candidate emerges as the APC’s governorship nominee for 2027 will receive their collective backing, provided the selection process is free, fair and credible.

The communiqué stressed that the aspirants will not accept the imposition of any candidate under any circumstances.

“Imposition is a betrayal of democracy, and we reject it totally, completely and without compromise,” they wrote.

The aspirants praised President Tinubu for what they described as his courage, foresight and administrative leadership in navigating the country through difficult national challenges.

“We rise today to salute the courage, foresight and tireless administrative prowess of the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu.”

“In the face of daunting national challenges, he has stood firm, guiding this country with steady hands.”

“We pledge our unwavering and unshakeable loyalty to him and his government. We pray Almighty God grants him sound health, strength and wisdom to steer the ship of state even beyond 2027. We stand firmly and proudly on his mandate,” the communiqué read.

Reaffirming their commitment to the APC, the aspirants argued that genuine progressives do not abandon their party in difficult times.

They noted that while consensus is a respected tradition within the party, it must never become a tool for exclusion, manipulation or injustice.

“We are not enemies of consensus. We respect the time‑honoured tradition of our party to build unity through agreement. But let consensus never become a cover for exclusion or manipulation.

“The process must be transparent, free, fair and clean, worthy of a party that claims to stand for the people. Anything less is an insult to the sacrifices of our members who have bled for this party,” they stated.

The aspirants also condemned the use of money and material inducement to influence candidate emergence, warning that a growing culture of vote‑buying threatens the integrity and future of the APC in Oyo State.

“It pains us to see how money and material inducement are sometimes paraded as tools to hijack the will of the people.”

“We condemn, in the strongest terms, the flaunting of cash and every form of inducement that corrupts the process of selecting our leaders.

“When money speaks louder than merit, the party bleeds and the people suffer. We will not stand by and watch the soul of our party be sold for a price,” the communiqué added.

Reflecting on the party’s previous electoral defeats in the state, the aspirants said the APC lost the 2019 and 2023 governorship elections largely because of internal division, injustice and the imposition of candidates.

“We have not forgotten the bitter lessons of 2019 and 2023 in Oyo State. We lost not because our ideals were weak, but because division, imposition and injustice weakened our ranks.

“To avoid repeating that agony, we must now allow probity, equity and propriety to guide every decision we make. Our people deserve better than a party that ignores its own pain and repeats its mistakes,” they stated.

The aspirants further argued that fairness and transparency should extend beyond the governorship race to the selection of candidates for the Senate, House of Representatives and State House of Assembly seats.

They contend that applying the same standards at all levels would rebuild trust within the party, restore public confidence and position the APC for victory in 2027.

On the need for peace within the party, the aspirants warned that the APC would struggle to mount a credible challenge in 2027 without internal harmony.

“Peace is not weakness; it is the foundation upon which victory is built,” they said, pledging to resolve disagreements through internal dialogue rather than public confrontation that could damage the party’s image.

They also called on the state and national APC leadership to initiate a genuine reconciliation process aimed at healing divisions and reintegrating aggrieved members from ward and local government levels before the primaries.

“Healing must be deliberate, not rhetorical. Every disenchanted member who still believes in progressive ideals must feel seen, heard and reintegrated before the primaries,” the communiqué stated.

The aspirants urged party leaders, supporters and officials to exercise restraint in their statements and conduct, warning against media wars, personal attacks and factional politics.

“A house that fights itself in public cannot convince voters to trust it with power,” they declared, adding that the party’s focus should instead be on addressing issues affecting the people.

They emphasized the importance of grassroots mobilisation, noting that the APC’s chances in the 2027 governorship election will depend heavily on its ability to reconnect with ordinary voters across Ibadan, Ogbomoso, Oyo, Oke‑Ogun and Ibarapa.

The aspirants pledged to prioritise ward‑level mobilisation, listening tours and issue‑based campaigns over elite political bargaining.

“A party that is alive at the grassroots does not need to fear the outcome of a free contest, especially if the right candidate with broad public acceptance is fielded on merit rather than imposed through the influence of wealth and inducement.

“This did not work in the past, and it will not work tomorrow in Oyo State. We do not want to forfeit 2027,” they warned.

The communiqué concluded by calling for credible internal democracy, insisting that only a transparent and acceptable consensus arrangement or primary election can unite the party after the contest.

“When members believe the process was fair, they rally behind the winner. When they suspect manipulation, they withdraw. APC in Oyo State must choose credibility over convenience if it hopes to return to the Agodi Government House,”