Oyo 2027: Party Leaders Warned Against Underestimating Aggrieved Oyo APC Reps Aspirants’ Political Influence

•Coalition insists on loyalty to Tinubu, Observers Caution Against Undermining Rep Aspirants’ Grassroot Influence

Reports reaching this newspaper have revealed that delegates from the Allied Peoples Movement (APM) have allegedly been making overtures to the Coalition of Concerned APC House of Representatives Aspirants in Oyo State amid growing grievances over the candidate-selection process of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the state.

The alleged move is coming against the backdrop of mounting dissatisfaction among APC aspirants who contested for the party’s House of Representatives tickets across the federal constituencies in Oyo State but were left aggrieved by the process that produced the party’s candidates for the 2027 general elections.

The coalition had expressed displeasure over the emergence of candidates through what it described as a “unity list,” arguing that the process denied aspirants and party members the opportunity to exercise their democratic rights through transparent, credible and competitive primaries.

In a communiqué issued after consultations among its members and other stakeholders, the aggrieved aspirants called on the APC national leadership to review the process and establish a credible reconciliation mechanism to address their concerns.

The development has reportedly attracted the attention of political actors outside the APC, with APM delegates allegedly reaching out to members of the coalition in what is believed to be an attempt to take advantage of the disagreements within the ruling party’s opposition in Oyo State.

However, a representative of the coalition, speaking at a scheduled meeting, reportedly dismissed any suggestion that the aggrieved aspirants were considering abandoning the APC for another political party.

The representative reaffirmed the coalition’s unalloyed loyalty to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the leadership of the Oyo State APC, insisting that the group’s grievances over the candidate-selection process should not be interpreted as a rejection of the party.

According to him, the coalition remains confident that the national and state leadership of the APC will listen to its complaints and address them in the interest of justice, fairness and party unity.

He reportedly expressed the belief that the Oyo APC leadership understands the importance of maintaining cohesion among party members and would take the necessary steps to prevent the disagreement from escalating into a crisis capable of weakening the party ahead of the 2027 general elections.

The representative further indicated that the aspirants would not want the prevailing situation to create an opportunity for opposition parties to exploit internal divisions within the APC, stressing that the coalition remained committed to resolving its grievances through established party channels.

The coalition’s position is consistent with its earlier communiqué, in which it reaffirmed its loyalty to the APC and President Tinubu while insisting that genuine unity must be founded on justice, fairness, inclusion and mutual respect.

The aspirants also maintained that their contributions to the party’s grassroots mobilisation across Oyo State should not be overlooked, noting that they had invested considerable personal resources in party activities, community development initiatives, voter engagement and membership mobilisation.

They argued that their political structures and supporters remain important to the APC’s preparations for the 2027 elections and urged the party leadership to recognise their contributions and integrate them meaningfully into its electoral strategy.

The coalition consequently called for an impartial review of the candidate-selection process and the establishment of a high-level reconciliation committee comprising respected party leaders acceptable to the affected stakeholders.

It also appealed to its supporters across the state to remain calm, peaceful and law-abiding while the party addresses the issues raised.

Although the alleged overtures by APM delegates could add another dimension to the unfolding political situation, the coalition’s reported position suggests that its immediate focus remains on securing redress within the APC rather than defecting to another party.

The development is expected to sustain attention on the ability of the APC leadership to manage the grievances arising from the candidate-selection process and prevent the controversy from deepening divisions among its members across Oyo State.

For the aggrieved aspirants, the message remains that loyalty to the party does not preclude the demand for fairness, while reconciliation remains their preferred route to resolving the dispute.

An APM stalwart in the state confirmed the alleged overtures, stating that it was normal for one party to explore cracks in another party so as to win aggrieved members from the other side to their fold while attempts to get the coalition representative’s remarks were not fruitful as at the time of filing this report.