Oyo 2027: Ajimobi, Folarin , Hosea Agboola Unaware of Alli Endorsement as APC Stakeholders Dismiss Exercise as ‘Child’s Play’
The controversy surrounding the purported endorsement of Senator Sharafadeen Alli for the 2027 governorship race in Oyo State has taken a new turn, as key blocs
within the All Progressives Congress (APC) distance themselves from the development, describing it as inconsequential and lacking legitimacy.
Allies of the late former governor Abiola Ajimobi , Senator Teslim Folarin and supporters of Senator Hosea Agboola have stated that they are not aware of any formal endorsement process, insisting that no credible stakeholders’ meeting was convened to ratify such a decision. According to sources within both camps, any gathering or declaration made outside the knowledge and participation of major party tendencies cannot be regarded as binding.
Party insiders further dismissed the endorsement as “mere child’s play,” arguing that it does not reflect the collective will of the APC in Oyo State. They stressed that decisions of such magnitude require broad consultation across all geopolitical zones, including Oke-Ogun, Ibarapa, Oyo, Ogbomoso, and Ibadan, none of which—according to them—were adequately represented.
The development has also sparked criticism of individuals linked to the exercise, particularly Fatai Ibikunle, who was reportedly seen raising Alli’s hand at the event. Some stakeholders questioned his standing within the party, suggesting that his actions do not carry the weight required to influence the party’s direction at either the state or national level.
In addition, party sources emphasized that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu should not be dragged into what they described as “unauthorised political theatrics,” warning against attempts to attribute endorsements or tacit approval to the president. “Money speaks, not Tinubu,” a senior party member remarked, suggesting that financial inducement—not party consensus—may have driven the endorsement.
Further distancing the party from the development, insiders revealed that the Oyo State APC chairman and the state executive were not part of the process, raising concerns about what some described as a “kangaroo endorsement” carried out without institutional backing.
At the heart of the dispute is the mode of primary election. Multiple stakeholders reaffirmed that the party’s position—from the national leadership down to the state level—remains direct primaries, describing it as sacrosanct and non-negotiable. They warned that any attempt to circumvent this process through endorsements could provoke widespread resistance.
The situation has already triggered discontent among other aspirants who have purchased nomination and expression of interest forms. Many of them, along with their supporters, are reportedly angered by what they see as an attempt to create undue advantage for a single aspirant ahead of the official primary process.
