Who Really Won? Conflicting Claims Trail Oyo APC Governorship Primary
Fresh controversy has continued to trail the governorship primary election of the All Progressives Congress in Oyo State following conflicting claims over the outcome of the exercise conducted across the state on Thursday.
While several online reports and party supporters claimed that Senator Sharafadeen Abiodun Alli emerged victorious with a landslide margin, supporters of Senator Buhari Abdulfatai have strongly rejected the figures being circulated, describing them as inaccurate, misleading, and mathematically questionable.
The primary election, which took place across the 33 local government areas of Oyo State, witnessed intense political tension among supporters of the leading aspirants, including former Deputy Governor and ex-Minister of Power, Chief Adebayo Adelabu.
According to reports circulating online, Senator Alli was said to have polled 578,143 votes, while Senator Buhari Abdulfatai reportedly secured 37,265 votes and Adelabu received 19,193 votes. However, the figures have since sparked widespread debate within the party, particularly among stakeholders questioning the authenticity and accuracy of the numbers.
Some APC leaders and party members loyal to Senator Buhari argued that the figures being circulated do not align with the officially known membership strength of the party in Oyo State. They maintained that the reported votes exceeded expectations for an internal party primary and called for caution in disseminating unverified information capable of creating confusion within the party.
A party stakeholder in Ibadan, Mr. Moraine Bamidele, expressed concern over the situation and urged party members to avoid escalating tensions through social media propaganda and unofficial declarations.
According to him, internal party processes should be respected while awaiting final clarification and ratification from the national leadership of the APC.
Supporters of Senator Buhari also insisted that the primary election outcome remains contentious, alleging irregularities, intimidation, and attempts by rival camps to influence public perception before the official conclusion of the process by the party’s national secretariat.
Several stakeholders within the party have now appealed to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, APC National Chairman Nentawe Yilwatda, and National Secretary Ajibola Basiru to intervene in order to preserve unity and ensure transparency within the party ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Political observers say the disagreement over the primary results reflects deeper divisions within the Oyo APC, especially as various power blocs continue to position themselves for control of the party structure ahead of the next governorship election.
Despite the controversy, party elders have continued to call for calm among supporters of all aspirants, warning that prolonged internal disputes could weaken the APC’s chances against the ruling government in Oyo State.
As of the time of filing this report, the APC National Secretariat had yet to issue a comprehensive official statement addressing the conflicting claims surrounding the primary election figures.
The situation continues to generate intense reactions both within Oyo State and across political circles nationwide, with many party faithful awaiting official clarification from the national leadership of the APC.
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