Senator Sarafadeen Alli has emerged as the governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Oyo State following a decisive victory in the party’s primary election conducted across the state.
Results released at the end of the exercise showed that Alli secured 578,143 votes to defeat other aspirants by a wide margin. Senator Buhari polled 37,265 votes, while former Minister of Power, Chief Adebayo Adelabu, garnered 19,193 votes.
The outcome triggered widespread celebrations among supporters of the APC chieftain, with prominent businessman and Okanlomo Oodua/Bada Olubadan, Dotun Sanusi, describing the victory as a clear demonstration of the confidence party members have in Alli’s leadership and vision for Oyo State.
In a congratulatory message, Sanusi commended APC members, market associations, political allies and supporters for their dedication throughout the primary process. He described the result as a victory for progressive forces seeking a new direction for the state ahead of the 2027 governorship election.
Despite Alli’s overwhelming victory, the exercise was not without controversy, as Adelabu alleged widespread irregularities in parts of the state.
Speaking with journalists shortly after casting his vote at Ward 9 in Ibadan South-East Local Government Area, Adelabu said the process in his ward was peaceful, transparent and orderly, claiming that more than 430 out of about 437 registered members voted in his favour.
While expressing satisfaction with the conduct of the election in his ward, the former Deputy Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria alleged that reports from other parts of the state indicated incidents of intimidation, manipulation and electoral malpractice.
Adelabu further alleged that voting commenced ahead of schedule in some wards and that some party members were prevented from participating through threats and violence. He also claimed that results were compiled in certain areas where elections allegedly did not take place.
The APC stalwart accused some party officials of working in collaboration with specific aspirants to impose consensus candidates, contrary to the directive of the party’s national leadership for a transparent direct primary election. According to him, all 11 aspirants who purchased nomination forms and were screened for the contest deserved equal opportunities.
He disclosed that formal petitions detailing the alleged irregularities would be submitted to relevant party authorities, covering complaints from Ibadan, Oke-Ogun, Ogbomosho, Ibarapa and Oyo zones. Adelabu warned against attempts to impose what he described as an unpopular candidate on party members through manipulated outcomes.
However, officials overseeing the exercise dismissed allegations of bias and irregularities, insisting that the primary was peaceful and credible across the state.
A member of the primary election committee, Abdulsalam, said monitors deployed across Oyo State observed orderly conduct throughout the voting process, noting that the atmosphere remained calm and peaceful. He also dismissed speculations that the Presidency had endorsed any aspirant before the poll.
Similarly, Chairman of the APC Primary Election Monitoring Committee in Oyo State, Chief Ayo Afolabi, commended party members for their peaceful conduct and described the turnout as impressive.
Afolabi urged aggrieved aspirants and party members to unite behind the party’s candidate ahead of the 2027 governorship election, expressing optimism that the APC would emerge stronger after the primary exercise.
