Former Oyo State governorship candidate and former Senate Leader, Senator Teslim Folarin, has declared his support for the All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate, Senator Sharafadeen Alli, ahead of the 2027 governorship election, urging aggrieved party members and their supporters to set aside their differences and unite for the party’s victory.
Folarin made the appeal on Monday while addressing enthusiastic APC supporters at his residence in Oluyole, Ibadan, where he publicly demonstrated his support for Alli by raising the governorship candidate’s hand.
The former Senate Leader acknowledged the grievances among party members, particularly those who had spent years pursuing their governorship ambitions but were disappointed by the outcome of the party’s selection process.
He said such disappointment was understandable, noting that those who felt cheated deserved to be heard and appeased.
“I have invested 26 years of my life in becoming governor. If I feel cheated, am I not expected to be angry?” Folarin asked.
He, however, urged the affected aspirants and their supporters to close ranks with other party stakeholders as the 2027 general elections approach, stressing that the APC could not afford to remain divided.
Folarin expressed concern over the slow pace of the reconciliation process being handled by a committee led by Professor Taoheed Adedoja and Senator Femi Lanlehin, among other party leaders.
According to him, the committee had achieved only about 20 per cent of its target, with mutual grievances among party members slowing efforts to resolve the crisis.
He stressed that the limited time remaining before the elections made it imperative for the party’s leadership to intensify reconciliation efforts and bring all aggrieved members back into the fold.
As part of efforts to address the internal crisis, Folarin disclosed that he had met with the former Minister of Power, Chief Adebayo Adelabu; Senator Abdulfatai Buhari; and former Oyo State Deputy Governor, Engineer Rauf Olaniyan, at Iyaganku, Ibadan.
He urged APC members to rally behind Alli, explaining that President Bola Tinubu’s appointment of him as coordinator of the Oyo State Presidential Campaign Council placed a responsibility on him to work towards the success of all APC candidates in the state.
Folarin said the party must improve on the votes it secured for President Tinubu in Oyo State during the 2023 presidential election while ensuring that its governorship and legislative candidates emerge victorious in 2027.
The former Senate Leader also called for a review of the APC’s reward system, insisting that members who had contributed to the party’s growth and electoral success should benefit from their efforts rather than be neglected.
He maintained that Alli must work closely with party leaders to ensure that aggrieved members were accommodated, adding that experienced politicians should not be sidelined in the reconciliation process.
“We won’t allow Alli to rest until all aggrieved members get their own benefits,” Folarin declared.
He further urged party leaders and supporters at the gathering to spread the message that efforts were being made to resolve the disagreements within the APC, emphasising the urgency of reconciliation ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Folarin’s declaration of support for Alli comes amid ongoing efforts by the Oyo State APC leadership to reconcile aggrieved stakeholders and strengthen the party’s chances of securing victory in the forthcoming elections.
