2027: We Vehemently Reject ‘Unholy Consensus’, Demand Direct Primaries – Oyo APC Stakeholders to Party Leaders
By: Afeez Bello
Critical stakeholders within the Oyo State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) have expressed their dissatisfaction about the endorsement of anointed aspirants, which has sparked uproar in the party in the last few days at a meeting/press conference on Monday, May 4, at Otunba Subomi Balogun Hall, University of Ibadan, Ibadan.
In a communique issued after the meeting and which was addressed to the President and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, Federal Republic of Nigeria, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, and the National Chairman of the party, Professor Nentawe Yilwatda, and copied to the relevant party chieftains such as Oyo APC State Chairman Chief Moses Alake Adeyemo, former Deputy Governor Chief Iyiola Oladokun, Nigeria Ambassador to Austria Mrs Florence Ajimobi, Senator Brimo Yusuf, Senator Femi Lanlehin, Senator Rilwan Adesoji Akanbi and others, the stakeholders highlighted their seven key requests, which are: rejection of a consensus candidate; strong demand for direct primaries; sanction of the elders behind the endorsement; prevention of massive defection of party gladiators (to stop stakeholders from exiting the party at this critical moment); position on national appointments by the President and appointees victimising the party; inclusiveness of founding party members of the party; and reaffirming loyalty to the party.
One of the relevant stakeholders, Chief Banji Agboola, noted the party is tired of being in an opposition. APC lost in 2019 due to internal wrangling within the party that hindered the party from consolidating on the legacy of former governor Isiaq Abiola Ajimobi. The history of that year is repeating itself; we are not going to fold our arms and keep quiet. Those causing these issues are still in power. I can tell you categorically, the elders endorsing an aspirant didn’t get any nod from Mr President.
“All the leaders in attendance, like Chief Akin Oke, Baba Laoye, Senator Brimoh Yusuf and others, were deceived to be there. The president is going to do the right thing, not a kangaroo endorsement.
“Any aspirant who emerges through fair and transparent direct primaries without any form of manipulation will have the support of all party members,” Agboola submitted.
In his remarks, Comrade Ishola Akeem Adetoyese emphasised that President Tinubu is a democrat. In 2022, he participated in the party primary and won. If that is what will happen in Oyo State today, let everybody go to the field and test their popularity. There won’t be any problem if anybody emerges through this process. The process helped the president in 2023. We are calling on the President to replicate the same process in Oyo State so that every aspirant will test their popularity and the right candidate will emerge.
“As a democrat, the president understands the process of consensus; if any aspirant says no to consensus, the next option in the electoral law is direct primary. We know those who lied against the president, and that kind of deception cannot stand. I want to assure our party members that all their false information is a naked lie. We will not relent on our efforts to ensure that the party does the right thing, and we will not relent until the right thing is done.
In his address, the spokesperson of the stakeholders, Aare Saheed Olayiwola, declared that the May 1 endorsement allegedly acting on behalf of President Tinubu is null, void, and unacceptable to the majority of the party stalwarts and members since such a gathering did not represent the genuine interest of the relevant stakeholders and was against the collective will of the party members; adoption of direct primaries across all boards, which they described as the most credible means of restoring confidence among the party faithful; and a call for sanctions against gross indiscipline and anti-party activities by some appointees and leaders who lack genuine grassroots relevance, manipulating processes for selfish gains, working against the interest of the party, etc. Prevention of defection of party bigwigs that may force Senator Teslim Kolawole Folarin and other stakeholders out of the party; appreciated the President on the appointment of Engineer Joseph Olasunkanmi Tegbe as the new power minister; urged the new minister designate to see his new role as national service, represent the party with integrity, and stay away from any issues that will cause internal wrangling in the party; appealing to the President to appoint founding members in his cabinet. A special call for inclusiveness is highly demanded; we are reaffirming loyalty to Mr President and the party and ready to channel our energy to the success of the party in the general election, come 2027, he noted.
Mr Akinleye Oluwasegun Bishop and Mrs Abiodun Folashade unanimously noted that the President didn’t send anybody to endorse any aspirant. “We know the antecedent of those behind the shenanigan. These Elders cause division in the party every four years to benefit from it. We implore the president to sanction them since they’ve caused an uproar that will plunge the party to the losing side. We heard it on good authority that Senator Folarin, among other stakeholders, is set to leave the party if the necessary step is not taken. The position of the law is clear.
“Consensus should be the will of all aspirants through written agreement. Not imposing people on the party. We are appealing to our leaders in the state to rise against these anomalies because we can’t afford to be in opposition for another eight years. The recent imposition in the 2025 by-election should serve as a lesson to all party chieftains,” they added.
Other stakeholders who spoke vehemently rejected imposition while urging for internal democracy and an inclusive approach.
Also in attendance were Hon. Teslim Kunle ‘Teskom’, Mogaji Abiola Oyeyemi, Hon. Dauda Kolawole, Inaolaji Akinloye Adisa, Comrade Femi Awogboro, Wasiu Akinlabi (pawpaw), Toyese Oyerinde, Asiwaju Mudashiru, Samsudeen Popoola, and several others.
