2027: Oyo APC G6 aspirants endorse Alli for governor

Four of the six aggrieved governorship aspirants in the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Oyo under the G6 bloc have resolved to lay aside their differences and work for the party’s candidate, Sen. Sharafadeen Alli, in the 2027 election.

The resolution was announced by Sen. Olufemi Lanlehin, Chairman of the Governorship Aspirants Reconciliation Committee, at a news conference on Sunday in Ibadan.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) recalls that the committee was constituted by the APC in the aftermath of the governorship primary in Oyo State which produced Alli as the party’s candidate for the 2027 election.

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NAN reports that the meeting also produced a communique signed by the committee and the aspirants.

Lanlehin said the reconciliation was necessary because the party could not afford to go into the 2027 elections divided.

He noted that eleven aspirants contested the APC governorship primary, and at the end of the process, Alli emerged as the party’s flag bearer.

According to him, while some aspirants had reservations about the process and outcome, the larger responsibility now is to build the party and win the confidence of the people of Oyo State.

He said that was the mandate of the Governorship Aspirants’ Reconciliation Committee, as well as the National Assembly and State Assembly reconciliation committees set up by the party.

The former senator disclosed that after a series of engagements, four aspirants agreed to put the contest behind them.

“They are former Deputy Governor Rauf Aderemi Olaniyan; Mr Oyedele Hakeem-Alao; Prince Musbau Asatola-Asanike; and Dr Ololade Bakare,” he said.

“The decision of the aspirants represents a victory for collective interest over individual ambition, reconciliation over division, and unity over factionalism,” Lanlehin said.

The committee chairman further stated that Oyo has a critical role to play in securing the 2027 mandate for President Bola Tinubu, adding that this could only be achieved through unity among the party’s stakeholders.

In the communique issued after the meeting with the “APC G6” aspirants, the committee resolved that the aspirants had declared unwavering support for the President, Alli, and all other APC candidates in the forthcoming elections.

The document further stated that the aspirants would fully support, cooperate, collaborate, and work tirelessly with the party’s candidates and all structures established to ensure victory at the polls.

It added that the aspirants would appreciate an audience with the President at his convenience to reiterate their conviction and support.

The Oyo APC G6 aspirants also urged all APC members in the State to unite behind Senator Alli, strengthen the party, and deliver overwhelming votes for President Tinubu and all APC candidates in 2027.

Speaking on behalf of the other aspirants, former Deputy Governor Rauf Olaniyan said that the agreement was not signed under duress.

Olaniyan said that the current atmosphere within the party shows that all stakeholders had agreed to work together.

Reacting to the development, APC governorship candidate in the state, Sen. Sharafadeen Alli, said that the reconciliation process would still continue to ensure that the remaining aspirants align with him.

Alli appealed to the remaining aggrieved groups to come together so that the APC emerges victorious in 2027.

He said that the party was the government in waiting in Oyo.