Six governorship aspirants on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Oyo State have called on President Bola Tinubu to intervene in what they described as attempts to impose a consensus candidate ahead of the party’s 2027 governorship primaries.
In an open letter addressed to the President, the aspirants expressed concern over what they called growing threats to the unity and internal democracy of the party in Oyo State.
The signatories include former Deputy Governor of Oyo State, Rauf Olaniyan, alongside Adewale Kolapo Kareem, Musbau Asanike, Akeem Agbaje, Oyedele Hakeem Alao, and Ololade Usman Bakare.
They alleged that some party stakeholders and aspirants were engaging in endorsement campaigns, manipulating party structures, and mobilising crowds to create a false impression of popularity ahead of the primaries.
The group also warned that repeating past mistakes—such as what they described as the imposition of a candidate in 2023—could weaken the APC’s chances in the state in 2027.
They urged President Tinubu to summon all aspirants and ensure a fair, transparent, and inclusive process for selecting the party’s governorship candidate.
According to them, consensus within the APC should be based on merit and broad consultation rather than influence from a few powerful individuals.
The aspirants further cautioned that imposition of candidates could lead to internal divisions, voter apathy, and possible defections ahead of the election.
