Oyo APC Governorship Crisis Deepens as G6 Aspirants Reject Alli’s Candidacy Claim

Oyo APC Governorship Crisis Deepens as G6 Aspirants Reject Alli’s Candidacy Claim

• The G6 group of aggrieved governorship aspirants insists the party has no candidate yet, describing Senator Sharafadeen Alli’s assertions as “delusional” and demanding a credible consensus process supervised by President Tinubu.

The crisis rocking the Oyo State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) intensified on Tuesday as six governorship aspirants, operating under the banner of the G6, openly rejected Senator Sharafadeen Abiodun Alli’s claim that he is the party’s governorship candidate for the 2027 election. The aggrieved aspirants insisted that the APC is yet to produce a standard bearer and described Alli’s assertions as premature and unfounded. The G6, comprising former Deputy Governor of Oyo State, Engr. Rauf Olaniyan; Engr. Hakeem Alao; Dr. Ayobami Lam-Adesina; Barrister Akeem Agbaje; Mr. Ololade Bakare; and Barrister Musibau Asanike, made their position known in a statement issued on Tuesday. The group maintained that no agreement had been reached on the emergence of a consensus governorship candidate, and that their position on the governorship race has not changed.

Senator Alli, who represents Oyo South Senatorial District in the National Assembly and is one of the APC governorship aspirants, has maintained that his nomination is valid. Speaking during an interactive session with journalists in Ibadan organised by the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Oyo State Council, Alli expressed confidence that efforts were already underway to heal divisions within the party and unite key stakeholders ahead of the 2027 polls. “On my part, I have also been going round to reconcile with members, both the governorship and the senatorial aspirants. I can tell you this party is going to resolve all that you think is a crisis,” Alli said. The senator also disclosed that he had held meetings with some of the aspirants in recent days and expressed optimism that disagreements within the party would soon be resolved.

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The G6, however, swiftly distanced itself from the senator’s remarks. In a statement, the aspirants said Alli was moving ahead of events and creating the impression that a consensus had already been reached when discussions were still ongoing. They stressed that none of them had abandoned their political ambitions and that their supporters remained committed to ensuring a fair process for selecting the party’s eventual candidate. “Oyo State APC is yet to have a governorship candidate, and Senator Sharafadeen Alli, who has been parading himself as the candidate of our great party, is living in delusion,” the statement read. The aspirants maintained that they remained loyal members of the APC and had no intention of working against the party. They noted that their primary concern was the emergence of a candidate through a process that would enjoy broad acceptance among members and stakeholders across the state. According to them, the success of the APC in 2027 depends on unity, transparency and a consensus-building process that accommodates different interests within the party.

The G6 reiterated its support for President Bola Tinubu and said it would stand by any decision reached through a credible consensus arrangement initiated by the President and the party leadership. “We are good party members and will gladly work for the victory of our great party with anyone President Bola Ahmed Tinubu picks as the consensus candidate,” the statement added. The group further argued that imposing any aspirant on party members could deepen divisions and weaken the APC’s chances in the next governorship contest. They called for wider consultations and a review of ongoing political arrangements to ensure that all stakeholders are carried along. “While G6 is committed to the success of our party in the 2027 general elections, we insist that the process must be reviewed to produce a consensus that will ensure the emergence of a candidate that most party members will accept and support. Not an aspirant who is using propaganda in his bid to impose himself as the candidate of the party,” the group stated.

The crisis within the Oyo APC has been brewing for months, with multiple factions and aggrieved aspirants raising concerns over the conduct of the party’s governorship primary. In July 2026, the party inaugurated a high-powered reconciliation committee led by Senator Olufemi Lanlehin and Professor Taoheed Adedoja to resolve internal grievances and strengthen unity ahead of the 2027 polls. During separate consultative meetings held on July 8 and July 10, the aggrieved aspirants expressed dissatisfaction with the conduct of the governorship primary, raising concerns over both the process and the outcome of the exercise. Despite their grievances, the aspirants reaffirmed their commitment to the party and agreed to honour any invitation by President Tinubu to discuss their concerns. The crisis has also been compounded by supporters of the Minister of Power, Bayo Adelabu, who have continued protests at the APC Secretariat in Oyo State, insisting on “Adelabu or nothing” and rejecting what they described as an alleged attempt to impose a governorship candidate.

Despite the deepening crisis, the APC’s reconciliation committee has continued to meet with aggrieved aspirants in an effort to restore unity. The committee has assured all parties of its commitment to handling the process with sincerity, transparency and objectivity, stressing that every submission and concern will receive fair consideration. President Tinubu has also been expected to intervene directly in the matter, with the aspirants expressing readiness to honour any invitation by the President to discuss their concerns. The party leadership has expressed confidence that the ongoing reconciliation exercise will promote peace, unity and progress within the Oyo State chapter of the APC ahead of future political activities. Despite the disagreements, the G6 emphasized that the APC in Oyo State remains united and capable of reclaiming power in the state if internal issues are properly managed. They described the party as one family and said their demand for a credible consensus process should not be interpreted as rebellion against the party leadership.

Oyo APC Governorship Crisis Deepens as G6 Aspirants Reject Alli’s Candidacy Claim