The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Oyo State has reconciled aggrieved aspirants who contested its primary elections for the State House of Assembly across the 32 constituencies in the state ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The reconciliation followed protests by some aspirants over the conduct and outcome of the party’s primary elections, which produced candidates to fly the APC flag in the various constituencies.
In response to the grievances, the party inaugurated reconciliation committees, including the Oyo State House of Assembly Reconciliation Committee, chaired by Alhaji Mufitau Adisa Gbayawu.
Speaking at a stakeholders’ meeting and press conference held at the International Conference Centre, University of Ibadan, on Sunday, Gbayawu said the reconciliation efforts had yielded positive results, with the aggrieved aspirants agreeing to accept the outcome of the primaries and work for the success of the party.
According to him, the committee engaged the aspirants individually, giving them the opportunity to express their grievances and concerns.
He said the interactions enabled the committee to understand the issues that prompted the protests and encouraged the aspirants to place the collective interest of the party above their individual ambitions.
Gbayawu acknowledged the right of aspirants to protest perceived irregularities, stressing, however, that the unity and overall interest of the party must remain paramount.
He said, “During our interaction with the aspirants in their respective areas, they made known their grievances, which formed the basis for the protest.
“The leadership of the APC respects the rights of not only the aspirants but the members as well, hence the reason for setting up the Reconciliation Committees to pacify members whose feelings have been injured.
“We thank the aggrieved aspirants and members for their resolve to drop their personal ambitions and work for the collective interest of the party in the 2027 election.”
Also speaking, the co-chairman of the committee, Aare Bisoye Fagade, presented the communiqué arising from the various meetings with the aspirants, describing the outcome as fruitful.
Fagade said the majority of the aspirants who participated in the primary election, including those who purchased nomination forms and those who did not, had demonstrated sportsmanship, maturity and commitment to the unity of the party.
He said the reconciled aspirants had expressed their willingness to work harmoniously with one another and the party leadership to secure victory for the APC in the 2027 general elections.
According to him, the aspirants also pledged their support for the re-election of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the election of APC candidates for the Senate, House of Representatives and the Oyo State House of Assembly.
The committee commended the aspirants for putting the overall interest of the APC above their personal ambitions and for demonstrating a willingness to collectively strengthen the party across the state.
It noted that the list of aspirants who participated in the primary election and agreed to support the party covered all 32 State House of Assembly constituencies in Oyo State.
The committee consequently appealed to members, leaders, stakeholders and supporters of the APC across the state to embrace reconciliation, avoid divisive tendencies and work together towards building a stronger and electorally formidable party ahead of 2027.
In his remarks, the co-chairman of the Oyo State Gubernatorial Reconciliation Committee, Senator Olufemi Lanlehin, emphasised the importance of unity among members.
Lanlehin, who said he had experienced both victory and defeat in previous elective contests, commended the aspirants for accepting the party’s decision on the candidates that emerged from the primaries.
“I have won and lost elections for elective political offices in the past. I know what it takes. I feel your pains, but you have taken the rightful decision to work for the interest of the party,” he said.
His fellow co-chairman, Prof. Taoheed Adedoja, also commended the aspirants for choosing reconciliation and cooperation with the party leadership.
The APC governorship candidate in Oyo State, Senator Sharafadeen Alli, equally praised the reconciled aspirants for their decision to put the interest of the party ahead of personal ambitions.
Alli assured party members that, if elected governor of Oyo State on May 29, 2027, he would work with all members of the party irrespective of their previous differences.
He further pledged his support for the implementation of local government fiscal autonomy in Oyo State.
