The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Oyo State has taken steps to resolve its internal crisis ahead of the 2027 general elections, as aggrieved House of Assembly aspirants have agreed to work with the party and support the re-election bid of President Bola Tinubu and the governorship ambition of Senator Sharafadeen Alli.
The reconciliation was disclosed on Sunday by the Chairman of the APC House of Assembly Reconciliation Committee, Alhaji Mufutau Adisa, at a stakeholders’ meeting and press conference held at the International Conference Centre, Ibadan.
Adisa said the affected aspirants had agreed to accept the outcome of the party’s primary elections and subordinate their personal interests to the collective interest of the APC.
He said the committee met the aspirants individually across their respective constituencies, giving them an opportunity to air their grievances over the primary process.
According to him, the reconciliation process was initiated after some aspirants protested the emergence of candidates for various elective positions ahead of the 2027 elections.
The protests prompted the party leadership to constitute reconciliation committees to address the grievances and prevent the disagreements from affecting the party’s chances at the polls.
Adisa said although members had the right to complain about perceived irregularities, the interest and survival of the party remained paramount.
“During our interaction with the aspirants in their respective areas, they made known their grievances which formed the basis for the protest,” he said.
He added that the APC leadership respected the rights of its members, which informed the decision to establish the reconciliation committees.
“We thank the aggrieved aspirants and members for their resolve to drop their personal ambitions. We thank God we have resolved our grievances, and they have pledged their total support for the re-election of President Bola Tinubu and the state APC governorship candidate, Senator Sharafadeen Alli, come 2027,” Adisa said.
Also speaking, the Co-Chairman of the committee, Aare Abisoye Fagade, said the reconciliation had secured the commitment of the majority of the aspirants who participated in the House of Assembly primary.
Fagade said the group included both aspirants who purchased nomination forms and those who did not, adding that they had demonstrated maturity by choosing party unity over individual ambitions.
“The committee is pleased to report that the majority of the aspirants who participated in the primary election, including those who purchased nomination forms and those who did not, have demonstrated commendable sportsmanship, maturity and commitment to the unity of the party,” he said.
He disclosed that the reconciled aspirants had agreed to work with the party leadership and one another to secure victory for the APC in the 2027 elections.
“In furtherance of this commitment, the reconciled aspirants pledged their support for the re-election of President Bola Tinubu, as well as the election of the APC candidates for the Senate, House of Representatives and the Oyo State House of Assembly,” Fagade said.
He said the committee would continue to encourage cooperation among party members and strengthen the APC’s structure across the state’s 32 House of Assembly constituencies.
The development was welcomed by members of the party’s gubernatorial reconciliation committee.
Its Co-Chairman, Senator Olufemi Lanlehin, appealed to the aspirants to remain committed to the party despite the outcome of the primaries.
Lanlehin, who said he had experienced both victory and defeat in previous elections, said he understood the frustration of aspirants who lost out in the process.
“I have won and lost elections for elective political offices in the past. I know what it takes. I feel your pains, but you have taken the right decision to work for the interest of the party,” he said.
Another Co-Chairman of the committee, Prof. Taoheed Adedoja, also commended the aspirants for choosing reconciliation and cooperation with the party leadership.
The House of Assembly Reconciliation Committee is chaired by Adisa, with Fagade as Co-Chairman and Dr Rotimi Oke-Owo as Secretary.
Other members are Mrs Mabel Williams, Pa Sule Ajibade, Hon. Ramota Okemakinde, Hon. Raji Rasaki, Hon. Obatunde Oladapo, Hon. Kehinde Oloya, Hon. Segun Ajanaku, Hon. Shakiru Fagunwa and Dr Gafar Salawudeen.
Adelabu’s decision
The reconciliation process comes days after former Minister of Power and APC governorship aspirant, Bayo Adelabu, announced that he would not pursue an appeal within the party or institute legal proceedings over the outcome of the governorship primary at this time.
Adelabu made his position known in a statement issued in Ibadan on Thursday, August 27, 2026, saying his ambition to govern the state was not a do-or-die affair.
He said his decision was reached after consultations with party leaders and representatives of his supporters across the 33 local government areas and 351 wards in Oyo State.
According to Adelabu, his decision should not be interpreted as an admission that he lacked evidence or confidence in his position.
“This decision is not because of a lack of evidence, confidence or conviction. Neither should it be interpreted as an act of surrender or an indication that my aspiration to serve as Governor of Oyo State is a do-or-die affair,” he said.
He explained that he opted against further escalation of the dispute because of the need to preserve peace and prevent divisions within the APC from becoming deeper.
“Rather, I have chosen, in the interest of peace, party stability and the larger future of the APC in the state, not to further escalate the matter through avenues that may deepen existing divisions and undermine the cohesion of our great party,” Adelabu stated.
The former minister also cited comments by the APC National Chairman during his recent visit to Oyo State, where he reportedly acknowledged errors, unfairness and injustice in aspects of the primary election.
Adelabu, however, argued that acknowledgement of the problems should be followed by appropriate corrective measures.
“Our respected National Chairman, during his recent visit to Oyo, openly acknowledged that there were errors, unfairness and injustice associated with aspects of the primary election process,” he said.
“We believe that an acknowledgement or apology, though important, cannot and should not substitute for the necessary correction where the opportunity to address the grievances still exists.”
The reconciliation of the House of Assembly aspirants, coupled with Adelabu’s decision to suspend further legal or internal action, represents a significant effort by the Oyo APC leadership to close ranks and present a united front ahead of the 2027 elections.
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