By Ghazali Ibrahim
Hopes of a 2027 governorship bid by Minister of Power, Adebayo Adelabu, may be dimming within the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Oyo State, following the endorsement of Senator Sharafadeen Alli as the party’s consensus candidate by key leaders.
The endorsement, announced after a high-level leadership summit in Samonda, Ibadan, is being interpreted by party watchers as a significant political blow to other aspirants, particularly Adelabu, who has long been linked with governorship ambitions in the state.
Top APC stakeholders at the meeting said the decision to rally behind Alli was the outcome of extensive consultations aimed at preventing internal divisions ahead of the 2027 elections.
Party chieftain, Hamzat Ayo Adeseun, disclosed that the consensus was also influenced by the stance of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, whose position as the party’s national leader was said to have weighed heavily on the final decision.
“Mr. President remains the leader of our party, and his opinion on who flies the party’s flag must be given due consideration,” Adeseun stated, underscoring the importance of aligning with the President’s preference.
Similarly, Fatai Ibikunle, Director of the South West Development Commission, revealed that his own discussions with President Tinubu pointed to support for Alli as the party’s preferred candidate.
Ibikunle called on other aspirants to step down in the interest of party unity, a move widely seen as directed at figures like Adelabu whose aspirations may now face mounting resistance within the APC structure.
With the party leadership closing ranks around Alli, analysts say the development could reshape the internal dynamics of the Oyo APC and narrow the path for any parallel ambitions.
In his reaction, Senator Alli thanked party leaders for the endorsement and pledged to pursue inclusive governance if elected, further consolidating his position as the emerging frontrunner within the party.
