The dust has finally settled on the keenly contested gubernatorial ticket of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Oyo State, with Senator Sarafadeen Abiodun Alli emerging as the party’s flag bearer.
This development marks the end of a long, arduous walk characterized by intense controversies, competing claims, and internal friction that at times threatened the very foundation of the party.
For those of us who have consistently utilized our platforms to promote the party for the better part of a decade, the recent period has been one of soul-searching. The process of arriving at a candidate stretched the party to its elastic limit, forcing members—including myself—to navigate the suffocating pressure of divided loyalties and the difficult choice between personal political affiliations and the collective survival of our party.
However, the period of uncertainty is over. In the wisdom of the party’s leadership, Senator Sarafadeen Abiodun Alli has been chosen to lead the charge. If we are genuinely committed to the progress of the APC, we must now move beyond the reservations generated by the primary process. While the decision-making echelons of any party are inherently fallible, the voice of the party has spoken, and for the sake of our shared goals, that voice must be respected.
The lessons of the past are stark. In 2019, internal divisions fueled protest votes that cost us the election, and in 2023, the so-called “Jagba Syndrome” ensured our continued displacement from the Agodi Government House. As we look toward 2027, the imperative to reclaim the state from the current administration is a task that must be done. We cannot afford another eight years in the political wilderness; doing so would be a disaster for our members and a failure of our duty to the people of Oyo State.
The road ahead requires a fundamental shift in strategy. The immediate path to victory is paved with three critical pillars: reconciliation, reconciliation, and reconciliation. I call upon Senator Sarafadeen Abiodun Alli, as the bearer of this burden, to be purposeful, magnanimous, and intentional in reaching out to every aggrieved member. Reconciliation cannot be a mere slogan; it must be rooted in absolute sincerity, with a genuine readiness to negotiate, harmonize, and concede where the situation demands it.
Both the oppressors and the oppressed in this narrative are members of the same family, sharing the same assets and liabilities. Our victory in 2027 will not be achieved through division, but through a unified front that understands that APC remains our only viable home. It is time to turn a new leaf, abandon the political vicissitudes of the past few months, and ensure that all hands are on deck to salvage our party. May we not labor in vain as we work to deliver victory for Senator Sarafadeen Abiodun Alli in 2027.
