“More Votes Than Reality?” Confusion Trails Oyo APC Governorship Primary Figures
Fresh controversy has erupted within the political space in Oyo State following claims surrounding the vote figures allegedly recorded during the recent governorship primary exercise of the All Progressives Congress in the state.
Several party supporters and political observers have openly questioned the credibility of the numbers being circulated online after reports claimed that Senator Sharafadeen Alli secured about 578,143 votes in the APC governorship primary process ahead of the 2027 election.
The development has sparked intense debate across social media platforms, especially when compared with the officially recorded results of the 2023 governorship election in Oyo State, where Governor Seyi Makinde won re-election with approximately 563,756 votes. Many critics argue that it appears politically unrealistic for a party primary election to allegedly produce figures higher than the total votes secured by a sitting governor during a statewide general election conducted by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
Political commentators have also pointed to previous APC membership registration figures in Oyo State, which many insiders claimed were below 300,000 members after the party’s registration and revalidation exercise. This has further fueled questions about how a governorship primary could reportedly generate well above half a million votes.
Across political discussions online, many residents expressed disbelief over the figures, with some describing the situation as “mathematically impossible” and others insisting that “something is not adding up.” The controversy has become one of the most discussed political topics in the state within the last 24 hours.
Recent reports from multiple media platforms confirmed that Senator Sharafadeen Alli has emerged as a major force within the Oyo APC structure ahead of the 2027 governorship election. Party leaders and stakeholders had earlier endorsed him as a consensus candidate, while the senator himself publicly declared readiness for either direct primaries or affirmation by the party leadership.
However, despite the growing support around his ambition, the reported vote tally circulating online has become the center of public skepticism. Critics argue that even during previous APC governorship primary exercises in Oyo State, such figures were never recorded.
Historical election records further deepen the debate. During the 2019 Oyo governorship election, APC candidate Adebayo Adelabu polled 357,982 votes in the main governorship election against Seyi Makinde’s 515,621 votes. In contrast, the current figures being associated with the APC primary are significantly higher than previous electoral performances recorded by the party in the state.
Observers say the controversy reflects a broader concern about transparency and credibility in Nigeria’s internal party electoral system. Some party members have privately argued that inflated figures, if not properly clarified, could damage public trust and expose the party to unnecessary criticism ahead of the 2027 general election.
Meanwhile, supporters of Senator Alli insist that the growing popularity of the senator across the 33 local government areas may have contributed to the large turnout allegedly witnessed during the exercise. They also maintain that the APC remains highly competitive in Oyo State despite losing the 2023 governorship election.
As reactions continue to pour in, many residents are now demanding official clarification from the Oyo APC leadership regarding the exact number of accredited members who participated in the exercise and the authentic vote totals recorded during the primary process.
For many political watchers, the biggest question remains simple: if the APC membership strength in Oyo State is reportedly below 300,000, how did a governorship primary allegedly produce over 578,000 votes?
For now, the figures remain a major talking point in Oyo politics — and to many observers, “everywhere don really dey blur.”
0 Comments