Some governorship aspirants of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Oyo State have warned against the imposition of candidates ahead of the 2027 governorship election, insisting that only a transparent and credible process can unite the party and return it to power in the state.
The aspirants, who met in Ibadan on Tuesday, May 12, 2026, declared that the mistakes that led to the party’s defeat in the 2019 and 2023 elections must not be repeated.
In a communiqué issued at the end of the meeting, the aspirants said they remained loyal to the APC and committed to supporting whoever eventually emerges as the party’s governorship candidate, provided the process is free, fair, and democratic.
The communiqué was signed by former Deputy Governor of Oyo State, Rauf Olaniyan, alongside Adewale Kolapo Kareem, Musbau Asatola Asanike, Akeem Agbaje, Oyedele Hakeem Alao and Ololade Usman Bakare.
The aspirants pledged loyalty to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and commended his leadership amid the nation’s economic and political challenges.
The communique stated, “We stand firmly and proudly on his mandate,” while also praying for God to grant the President strength and wisdom beyond 2027.
The politicians, however, stressed that internal democracy must not be sacrificed in the build-up to the next governorship election in Oyo State.
According to them, while consensus remains an acceptable option within the party, it must not become a tool for exclusion or manipulation.
They condemned what they described as the increasing use of money and inducement to influence the selection of party candidates, warning that allowing financial influence to override merit could further weaken the APC in the state.
“When money speaks louder than merit, the party bleeds and the people suffer,” the communiqué read.
The aspirants noted that the APC lost previous elections in Oyo State largely because of division, injustice, and internal crisis, adding that the party must embrace equity, fairness, and transparency to avoid another electoral setback.
They further called on party leaders at both the state and national levels to begin a genuine reconciliation process capable of healing aggrieved members from the ward level upward.
According to them, peace within the party remains essential if the APC hopes to mount a credible challenge in 2027.
The communiqué also cautioned party members and supporters against media attacks, factional politics, and inflammatory statements capable of deepening divisions within the party.
The governorship hopefuls pledged to focus more on grassroots mobilisation and issue-based engagement across Ibadan, Ogbomoso, Oyo, Oke-Ogun, and Ibarapa zones rather than elite political bargaining.
They maintained that only a candidate with broad public acceptance and credibility would be able to lead the APC back to the Agodi Government House in 2027.
The aspirants concluded by appealing to elders and stakeholders of the party to make justice, unity, and inclusiveness non-negotiable principles ahead of the election.
