The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Oyo State has reconciled most of the aspirants who contested its recent House of Assembly primary election, with the affected aspirants pledging to work together to strengthen the party and secure victory across the state’s 32 constituencies in the 2027 general elections.
The reconciliation is regarded as a major step towards restoring unity within the party following protests and grievances that reportedly trailed the conduct and outcome of the primary election that produced the APC’s candidates for the 2027 Oyo State House of Assembly elections.
The development followed extensive engagements by the party’s reconciliation committee with aspirants who purchased nomination forms, those who participated in the primary and other party members and stakeholders who expressed interest in the electoral process.
In a communique issued after the exercise, the committee said the engagements were conducted in the spirit of reconciliation, unity, mutual understanding and the collective interest of the APC in Oyo State.
The committee said the outcome of the meetings showed that most of the aspirants had demonstrated maturity and sportsmanship by putting the interest of the party ahead of their individual political ambitions.
“The Committee is pleased to report that the majority of the aspirants who participated in the primary election, including those who purchased nomination forms and those who did not, have demonstrated commendable sportsmanship, maturity and commitment to the unity of the Party,” the communique stated.
According to the committee, the reconciled aspirants expressed their willingness to work with one another and the party leadership towards achieving electoral victory for the APC in the 2027 general elections.
The aspirants also pledged their support for the re-election of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the election of APC candidates contesting for seats in the Senate, House of Representatives and Oyo State House of Assembly.
“In furtherance of this commitment, the reconciled aspirants pledged their support for the re-election of His Excellency, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, as well as the election of the APC candidates for the Senate, House of Representatives and the Oyo State House of Assembly,” the committee said.
The committee commended the aspirants for placing the collective interest of the party above their personal ambitions, describing their decision as an important demonstration of commitment to rebuilding and strengthening the APC ahead of the 2027 elections.
It also urged party leaders, members, stakeholders and supporters across the state to sustain the reconciliation process and avoid actions or statements capable of reopening old divisions.
“The Committee further calls on all members, leaders, stakeholders and supporters of the APC in Oyo State to embrace the spirit of reconciliation, eschew divisive tendencies and work collectively towards building a stronger, more united and electorally formidable Party,” it said.
Earlier, the Chairman of the reconciliation committee, Gbayawu, explained that members of the committee met with the aggrieved aspirants individually to provide them with an opportunity to explain their grievances and concerns regarding the primary election.
He acknowledged that party members and aspirants had the right to express dissatisfaction with aspects of the electoral process but stressed that such grievances should eventually be resolved in the larger interest of the party.
“During our interaction with the aspirants in their respective areas, they made known their grievances which formed the basis for the protest,” Gbayawu said.
He explained that the leadership of the party recognised the concerns of the affected members, which informed the decision to establish reconciliation committees to address the situation.
“The leadership of the APC respects the rights of not only the aspirants but the members as well, hence the reason for setting up the Reconciliation Committees to pacify those members whose feelings have been injured,” he added.
Gbayawu thanked the aspirants for their willingness to put aside their personal ambitions and support the party’s collective objective ahead of the 2027 elections.
“We thank the aggrieved aspirants and members for their resolve to drop their personal ambitions and work for the collective interest of the party in the 2027 election,” he said.
Presenting the outcome of the reconciliation exercise, Fagade described the process as fruitful, saying the willingness of the aspirants to cooperate with the party leadership had provided a stronger foundation for mobilisation ahead of the 2027 elections.
The Oyo State APC Gubernatorial Reconciliation Committee also participated in efforts to restore unity within the party.
Its Co-Chairman, Senator Olufemi Lanlehin, appealed to party members to maintain the spirit of reconciliation and work together despite differences arising from previous political contests.
Lanlehin, who spoke from his experience of contesting and losing elections, said he understood the frustrations of the affected aspirants but commended them for choosing to prioritise the party’s interest.
“I have won and lost elections for elective political offices in the past. I know what it takes. I feel your pains, but you have taken the rightful decision to work for the interest of the party,” he said.
The other Co-Chairman of the committee, Prof. Taoheed Adedoja, also commended the aspirants for agreeing to work with the party leadership towards achieving electoral success.
The APC governorship candidate in Oyo State, Sharafadeen Alli, welcomed the reconciliation and described the decision of the aspirants to work together as crucial to the party’s prospects in the 2027 elections.
Alli assured party members that, if elected governor of Oyo State on May 29, 2027, he would work with all stakeholders and implement local government fiscal autonomy in the state.
The reconciliation is part of broader efforts by APC leaders and stakeholders to resolve internal disagreements and strengthen the party’s structure ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The committee expressed confidence that the renewed cooperation among the aspirants, party leaders and other stakeholders would improve the APC’s chances of mobilising support and securing victory across Oyo State.
“Together, with unity of purpose and commitment, we can secure a resounding victory for the APC in Oyo State in 2027,” the committee declared.
