Oyo APC Power Struggle Appears Settled as Party Chairman Publicly Declares Senator Sarafadeen Alli as Governorship Candidate
The lingering uncertainty surrounding the All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship race in Oyo State appears to have taken a dramatic turn following a public declaration by the party’s chairman, Chief Moses Alake, who openly identified Senator Sarafadeen Alli as the party’s governorship candidate during a national television appearance.
The development has intensified political conversations within the Oyo APC, particularly among supporters of various governorship aspirants who have been positioning themselves ahead of the 2027 gubernatorial election. Chief Alake’s statement is being interpreted by many political observers as a strong indication of where the party leadership stands regarding the contest for the APC ticket.
Speaking during the televised interview, the APC chairman reportedly stated that the party already has a governorship candidate and identified Senator Sarafadeen Alli as the preferred flagbearer. The declaration has since generated widespread reactions across political circles in Oyo State, with supporters of the Oyo South senator celebrating the announcement as a confirmation of his growing influence within the party structure.
Senator Alli, who currently represents Oyo South Senatorial District in the National Assembly, has increasingly emerged as a prominent figure within the APC’s political calculations in the state. The lawmaker has enjoyed endorsements and backing from several influential stakeholders within the party in recent months, further strengthening speculations that he may become the APC’s consensus choice for the governorship race.
Political analysts note that Alli’s extensive experience in public service, including his previous roles as Secretary to the Oyo State Government, Chief of Staff, and Chairman of Odu’a Investment Company, has continued to position him as a formidable contender within the APC. He currently serves as the senator representing Oyo South in the National Assembly.
However, the chairman’s declaration has not been without controversy. Supporters of former Minister of Power, Chief Adebayo Adelabu, have openly challenged the development, insisting that the party’s governorship ticket cannot be determined outside a properly conducted primary election process.
Interestingly, Adelabu himself has maintained silence since the statement generated public attention. While the former governorship candidate has not issued any official response or direct rebuttal, many of his loyalists and political associates have continued to voice their dissatisfaction with the declaration, arguing that APC members should be allowed to determine the party’s candidate through a transparent and competitive process.
The situation has exposed the underlying divisions that have long existed within the Oyo APC, a party that has struggled with internal disagreements since losing control of the state government in 2019. Similar disputes over candidate selection have previously affected the party’s electoral fortunes, with several aspirants and factions battling for influence ahead of major elections.
Despite the growing debate, supporters of Senator Alli insist that the chairman’s position merely reflects the reality of ongoing consultations among party leaders and stakeholders who believe the senator possesses the political experience, grassroots appeal, and administrative competence required to challenge the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the next governorship election.
As reactions continue to trail the announcement, attention is now shifting to the APC leadership at the national level and the party’s eventual primary process. Whether Chief Moses Alake’s declaration represents an official consensus position or merely a political signal ahead of the formal nomination process remains a subject of intense debate.
For now, one thing is clear: the Oyo APC governorship contest has entered a new phase. While Senator Sarafadeen Alli appears to have secured significant backing from influential forces within the party, the silence of Adebayo Adelabu and the resistance from his supporters suggest that the battle for APC supremacy in Oyo State may not be completely over just yet.
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