Reported by: Ijeoma G | Edited by: Oravbiere Osayomore Promise.
The Oyo State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has concluded its highly anticipated governorship primary, with Senator Sharafadeen Alli emerging as the party’s candidate for the 2027 gubernatorial election. The exercise, which took place across the state on Thursday, May 21, 2026, saw Alli, who currently represents Oyo South Senatorial District in the National Assembly, secure an overwhelming victory over several other aspirants, including the immediate past Minister of Power, Chief Adebayo Adelabu. Official results announced by the primary election committee showed that Alli polled 578,143 votes, a figure representing a commanding lead over his closest rivals: Senator Buhari, who secured 37,265 votes, and Adelabu, who garnered 19,193 votes. The outcome marks a significant political realignment within the Oyo APC, positioning the senator as the party’s standard-bearer for the 2027 elections.
Despite the landslide margin, the primary was immediately overshadowed by allegations of irregularities from Adelabu, one of the most prominent aspirants in the race. The former Deputy Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, who resigned his ministerial position to focus on his gubernatorial ambition, spoke to journalists shortly after casting his vote at Ward 9 in Ibadan South‑East Local Government Area. While he described the conduct of the exercise in his immediate ward as peaceful, transparent and orderly — noting that he enjoyed massive support from party members, with over 430 out of 437 registered members reportedly voting in his favour — he expressed deep concern over reports from other parts of the state. Adelabu alleged widespread incidents of intimidation, manipulation and electoral misconduct, including voting that commenced hours before the scheduled time, party members being prevented from participating through threats and violence, and results being compiled in locations where elections allegedly did not take place. “In some wards, they conducted the election hours before the appointed time and wrote the figures they liked,” the ex‑minister charged. He further accused some party officials of collaborating with select aspirants to impose “consensus candidates,” a move he said contravened the directive of the party’s national leadership for a free and transparent direct primary. “The instruction we got from Abuja was that we should all carry out free, fair, and transparent direct primary elections where every aspirant will be given a level playing ground,” Adelabu emphasised.
Adelabu also revealed that formal petitions would be submitted to the appropriate party authorities, covering complaints from the Ibadan, Oke‑Ogun, Ogbomosho, Ibarapa and Oyo zones. He warned against what he described as an attempt to force an unpopular candidate on party members through manipulated outcomes, adding that the individuals responsible for the misconduct should be identified and punished. Despite these grievances, officials supervising the primary defended the process, dismissing allegations of bias and malpractice. A member of the primary election committee, Abdulsalam, said monitors deployed across the state observed orderly conduct during voting, while the atmosphere remained calm throughout the exercise. Similarly, the Chairman of the APC Primary Election Monitoring Committee in Oyo State, Chief Ayo Afolabi, commended party faithful for their peaceful disposition and impressive turnout, urging aggrieved aspirants to unite behind the eventual candidate ahead of the 2027 contest.
In contrast to the controversy, Alli’s victory was widely celebrated by his supporters across the state’s five geopolitical zones. Prominent businessman and Okanlomo Oodua/Bada Olubadan, Dotun Sanusi, in a congratulatory message, described the result as a reflection of the trust, confidence and overwhelming support for Alli’s leadership and vision. Sanusi extended appreciation to the APC family, market groups, political associates and supporters whose dedication and commitment made the victory possible. Political analysts note that Alli’s success, particularly his strong performance in key voting blocs, including areas considered the political strongholds of Adelabu’s allies, underscores his growing grassroots appeal. Notably, in Okaka, a political base of Hon. Kola Olabiyi, a prominent Adelabu supporter, Alli secured victories in Wards 1 and 2, dealing a symbolic setback to the former minister’s camp.
The aftermath of the primary, however, has not been entirely without incident. Tensions reportedly flared in Okaka after the results were announced, with sources claiming that Olabiyi left the venue in visible frustration and that his vehicle was involved in an accident with a commercial motorcycle, injuring a young girl. No fatality was recorded, and calls for an investigation into the incident have been made by residents. As the APC prepares for the 2027 general election, the party now faces the challenge of uniting its various factions behind Senator Alli, whose nomination is being championed by many as a consolidation of progressive forces in the state. Nevertheless, Adelabu has made it clear that he will pursue his grievance through formal petitions. “Democracy is the government of the people by the people and for the people, where nobody should be disenfranchised,” he said. “Once you are a party member, you should have that freedom, that authority to pick an aspirant of your choice as the flag bearer of the party.”
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