The in Oyo State has indicated its readiness to adopt direct primaries for the selection of governorship candidates ahead of the 2027 election, amid growing opposition to a proposed consensus arrangement within the party.
State APC Chairman and former deputy governor, Chief Moses Adeyemo, disclosed this on Monday while welcoming members of the party’s screening and appeal committees sent from the national secretariat to the APC office in Oke-Ado, Ibadan.
Adeyemo assured all aspirants of a transparent and fair process, emphasizing that the party remained committed to democratic principles and equal opportunities for every contender.
The development follows mounting pressure from several governorship aspirants who rejected reports suggesting that Senator Sharafadeen Alli had been endorsed as the party’s consensus candidate.
Among those opposing the consensus option are Senator Abdulfatai Buhari, former deputy governor Raufu Olaniyan, businessman Akeem Agbaje, and former Minister of Power, Adebayo Adelabu, all of whom have insisted on direct primaries.
Speaking on the matter, Adeyemo explained that although the party initially considered consensus arrangements, prevailing circumstances may compel the APC to conduct direct primaries for some positions, including the governorship ticket.
According to him, officials from the party’s national headquarters would oversee the exercise where necessary, while the state chapter would provide the needed support to ensure credibility and transparency.
He added that all registered APC members across the state would participate in the process at the ward level, either through affirmation in the event of consensus or through voting during direct primaries.
Chairman of the screening committee and former Speaker of the Ondo State House of Assembly, Taofiq Abdulsalam, stated that the committee was determined to ensure that only qualified aspirants emerged to contest on the APC platform.
Meanwhile, Senator Abdulfatai Buhari reaffirmed his readiness to participate in the governorship contest, expressing confidence in his chances of securing the party’s ticket.
Addressing party executives at the APC secretariat in Ibadan, Buhari maintained that any aspirant unwilling to face fellow contenders in a primary election lacked the capacity to lead the party into a general election.
The senator representing Oyo North Senatorial District described himself as one of the leading contenders among the aspirants screened for the race and promised to deliver quality governance if elected governor.
As part of his support for the party structure, Buhari pledged to provide solar-powered lighting and computer systems for the APC secretariat. He also donated N5 million to the party and an additional N2 million to members of the state executive committee.
Adeyemo commended the lawmaker for facilitating developmental projects in the Oke-Ogun area and praised his continued contributions to the growth of the party in the state.
