Oyo 2027: APC Faction Rejects ‘Unity Forum’ Endorsement, Warns Of Deepening Crisis
•By OYENIYI AWOJOODU
IBADAN — FRESH cracks have surfaced within the Oyo State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC), as a faction of the party has rejected a recent governorship endorsement reportedly linked to a group known as the “Unity Forum,” declaring the move “null and void.”
The group, led by Tade Akinjobi, warned that any endorsement not sanctioned by the party’s official leadership could undermine unity and jeopardise the APC’s chances in the 2027 governorship election.
The controversy follows reports that the Unity Forum, allegedly led by Senator Ayoade Adeseun, endorsed Senator Sharafadeen Alli as its preferred candidate for the 2027 race. However, Akinjobi’s group dismissed the endorsement as illegitimate and an attempt to impose a candidate on the party.
In a statement, the faction argued that such premature endorsements erode internal democracy and marginalise other aspirants who have already obtained nomination and expression of interest forms.
“The APC must adhere strictly to due process. Any attempt to skew the process in favour of a particular aspirant risks triggering widespread disaffection among members,” the statement read.
The group further stressed that the party’s leadership extends beyond those involved in the alleged endorsement, noting that key blocs including the Ajimobi Legacy Forum and loyalists of Senator Teslim Folarin were excluded from the process.
According to the statement, this exclusion represents “a clear disregard for fairness and equality,” warning that it could deepen divisions within the party ahead of the primaries.
The faction also cautioned against dragging President Bola Ahmed Tinubu into the controversy, describing claims linking him to the endorsement as misleading and capable of inflaming tensions within the party.
Central to the dispute is the mode of primary election. The group reaffirmed its support for direct primaries, describing the system as the most transparent and inclusive method of selecting the party’s candidate. It claimed that a majority of party stakeholders across key zones, including Oke-Ogun and Ibarapa, support this approach and deliberately stayed away from the endorsement meeting.
“The party is sitting on a keg of gunpowder,” the statement warned, adding that grassroots members are increasingly aggrieved by what they see as attempts to hijack the process.
“If these concerns are ignored, the consequences could be severe, including internal implosion and electoral defeat,” the group added.
Meanwhile, the APC State Ex-officio, Hon. Kola Amoo, adopted a more conciliatory stance, acknowledging the right of individuals and groups to express preferences while emphasising that such endorsements are not binding on the party.
He reiterated that the party’s official process remains intact, adding that the decision on the mode of primaries reportedly direct primaries has not changed.
Political observers say the escalating tensions reflect a broader struggle for control within the Oyo APC, with various blocs positioning themselves ahead of the 2027 election.
As the contest gradually takes shape, there are growing calls for the party’s national leadership to intervene and reconcile aggrieved factions before the situation worsens.
With the election still some distance away, analysts warn that the APC’s biggest challenge in Oyo State may lie not with the opposition, but within its own ranks