Governorship aspirants of the All Progressives Congress in Oyo State have vowed to resist any attempt to impose a candidate ahead of the party’s 2027 governorship primary, insisting that due process, fairness, and internal democracy must guide the selection process.
The position was contained in a communiqué issued after a high-level meeting held in Ibadan on Tuesday.
The aspirants said while they were not opposed to the emergence of a consensus candidate, such an arrangement must be reached through a transparent, credible and democratic process acceptable to all stakeholders.
Those present at the meeting included former Deputy Governor of Oyo State, Rauf Olaniyan, alongside Akeem Agbaje, Oyedele Hakeem Alao, Musibau Asanike and Ololade Usman Bakare.
The aspirants reaffirmed their loyalty to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the APC leadership, pledging continued support for the party at both state and national levels.
They also assured party members that whoever eventually emerges as the APC governorship candidate would receive their collective backing, provided the process is free, fair and credible.
In the communiqué, the aspirants firmly rejected any attempt to impose a candidate.
According to them, “Imposition is a betrayal of democracy, and we reject it totally, completely and without compromise.”
They praised President Tinubu for what they described as his courage and leadership in navigating 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.”
The aspirants stressed that while consensus remains a respected tradition within the party, it must never become a mechanism for exclusion or manipulation.
“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.”
They also condemned the use of financial inducement and vote-buying in influencing the emergence of party candidates.
According to them, the growing culture of monetary influence threatens the integrity of the party.
“When money speaks louder than merit, the party bleeds and the people suffer.”
Reflecting on the APC’s defeat in the 2019 and 2023 governorship elections in Oyo State, the aspirants blamed internal division, injustice and candidate imposition for the losses.
They warned that repeating similar mistakes could cost the party another opportunity in 2027.
The aspirants argued that fairness and transparency should not be restricted to the governorship contest alone but must also extend to the selection of candidates for the Senate, House of Representatives and State House of Assembly.
They noted that only a transparent process across all levels would rebuild trust within the party and position it for electoral victory.
On internal reconciliation, the aspirants urged both the state and national leadership of the APC to embark on deliberate peace-building efforts aimed at healing divisions and reintegrating aggrieved members before the primaries.
They warned against media wars, factional politics and public attacks among party members.
“A house that fights itself in public cannot convince voters to trust it with power.”
The aspirants also emphasised grassroots mobilisation as critical to the APC’s chances in 2027, stressing the need to reconnect with voters across Ibadan, Ogbomoso, Oyo, Oke-Ogun and Ibarapa.
They pledged to prioritise ward-level engagement, listening tours and issue-based campaigns over elite political bargaining.
The communiqué concluded with a call for credible internal democracy, insisting that only a transparent consensus arrangement or primary election can unite the party after the contest.
According to them, credibility, not convenience, will determine whether the APC can reclaim the Agodi Government House in 2027.
What You Should Know
The latest declaration by Oyo APC governorship aspirants signals growing concern over possible internal manipulation ahead of the 2027 governorship race.
Their insistence on transparency reflects lessons from the party’s defeats in 2019 and 2023, which many blamed on imposition and division. With several strong contenders already positioning for the ticket, how the APC handles its internal process may determine its electoral prospects.
If the party fails to maintain fairness and unity, it risks deepening fractures that could weaken its chances of reclaiming power in Oyo State from the ruling opposition.
