Oyo APC Guber Race: Adedoja Meets Aspirants, Urges Peaceful Primaries
•By OYENIYI AWOJOODU
IBADAN — A chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Oyo State, Prof. Taoheed Adedoja, has called on governorship aspirants in the party to ensure peaceful conduct before, during and after the forthcoming primary elections.
Adedoja made the call during a meeting which lasted for over five hours with governorship aspirants in Ibadan, stressing the need for unity and mutual respect among contenders in order to strengthen the party ahead of the 2027 general elections.
He said the success of the party would largely depend on the ability of aspirants and their supporters to avoid actions capable of causing division within the APC.
According to him, the party must remain focused on presenting a united front capable of winning the governorship election in Oyo State.
The former Minister of Sports and Special Duties, urged the aspirants to regard the primary election as a family affair and support whoever eventually emerges as the party’s candidate.
He also appealed to party members to avoid violence, inflammatory statements and acts of intimidation during the exercise.
Governorship aspirants present at the meeting included former Deputy Governor of Oyo State, Engr. Rauf Olaniyan; Dr. Ololade Usman Bakare; Prince Musbau Asatola Asanike; Sen. Sharafadeen Alli; and Engr. Akeem Alao.
Barr. Akeem Agbaje was absent at the meeting but sent his apologies.
The aspirants, while speaking at the meeting, commended Adedoja for his leadership role
They pledged to abide by the rules guiding the primary election and work towards the unity and progress of the APC in Oyo State.
In an interview, the Chairman of the G5, Engr Olaniyan, said the APC remained one family despite existing differences, adding that he would participate in the forthcoming governorship primary election, despite feelers that a candidate has been anointed even before the primary.
Also speaking, Prince Asanike described the gathering as a peace meeting, expressing optimism that “there will be light at the end of the tunnel.”
Efforts to get Sharafadeen Alli for the post meeting comments, proved abortive, as his line was switched off.