‘Folarin, Buhari, Adelabu and Agbaje Are Childish Politicians’ — Alli Supporters Boast of 2027 Victory

Supporters of the All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate in Oyo State, Senator Sharafadeen Abiodun Alli, have made a provocative declaration ahead of the 2027 governorship election, describing prominent politicians including former Senate Leader Teslim Kolawole Folarin, Senator Buhari Abdulfatai, former Minister of Power Adebayo Adelabu and Akeem Agbaje as “childish politicians” with little or no electoral relevance.

The supporters, who spoke at separate political gatherings in Ibadan on Sunday, insisted that Senator Alli would win the 2027 governorship election regardless of whether the politicians mentioned above support his candidacy.

They also claimed that Alli possesses sufficient grassroots acceptance and political strength to defeat any combination of individual politicians seeking to prevent the APC candidate from taking over the Oyo State Government House.

“Those names you mentioned are childish politicians. They have no electoral value. Sharafadeen Abiodun Alli will win the 2027 election without them,” one of the supporters, Bidemi Owolabi, was quoted as saying.

Owolabi went further with a highly controversial metaphor, declaring that even if the people of Oyo State refused to vote for Alli, “the grasses in Oyo State will turn to human beings and vote for Sharafadeen Alli.”

The statement, which is clearly political rhetoric rather than a literal electoral claim, has generated attention because of the confidence with which some Alli supporters are presenting their principal's chances ahead of the 2027 contest.

Senator Alli is already officially positioned as the APC's governorship candidate for the 2027 election. The Oyo APC formally unveiled him alongside its other candidates in September 2026, while Alli has repeatedly called for unity within the party and urged those who contested the governorship primary against him to work together for the APC's success.

The senator has also publicly expressed confidence in the APC's prospects. At the inauguration of local government campaign managers in Ibadan, Alli said the party was strategically positioned to win the major elective positions in Oyo State in 2027 and urged supporters to intensify grassroots mobilisation.

The boast by his supporters comes against the backdrop of a potentially competitive political contest. In the 2023 Oyo governorship election, Governor Seyi Makinde of the Peoples Democratic Party defeated APC candidate Teslim Folarin, securing 563,756 votes against Folarin's 256,685. Adebayo Adelabu, then the Accord candidate, polled 38,357 votes.

That history demonstrates why claims that any candidate can win “with or without Oyo people’s votes” are more political bravado than an established electoral reality. Ultimately, victory in a governorship election depends on voters, party organisation, mobilisation, alliances and the ability to translate political popularity into actual ballots.

Another controversial claim made by the supporters was that Senator Alli strongly believes in “Ewe-gbegbe” traditional powers as part of his political strategy. This assertion was presented by the speakers as part of their political commentary, but no independent evidence was provided to substantiate it.

Meanwhile, Alli's campaign platform publicly emphasises governance issues including education, security, healthcare, agriculture, infrastructure and inclusive development. His official campaign materials describe his political message around service, grassroots engagement and measurable governance.

As the 2027 election approaches, the latest comments underscore the increasingly combative nature of Oyo State politics. Whether Alli's supporters' confidence will translate into electoral victory remains to be determined by the people of Oyo State at the ballot box.

For now, the political message from the Alli camp is unmistakable: they believe their candidate can win — even without the support of the political figures they consider influential.