The governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Oyo State, Senator Sarafadeen Ali, has pledged to unite aggrieved aspirants within the party following the controversy trailing the party’s governorship primary election.
Ali made the declaration on Saturday while addressing journalists shortly after a meeting with President Bola Tinubu in Lagos.
Some aspirants who contested the APC governorship ticket had faulted the primary election that produced Ali as the party’s candidate, describing the process as flawed.
Responding to the concerns, the senator representing Oyo South Senatorial District said efforts were already underway to reconcile all tendencies within the party ahead of the 2027 governorship election.
According to him, consultations with fellow aspirants started even before the primary election because he anticipated a keenly contested process and recognised the need for party unity.
“Well, efforts are in top gear to get everybody on board. As a matter of fact, even before the primaries, I had started going around to see all of them because I knew I was the leading candidate,” Ali said.
He added that the aspirants had assured him of their support if he eventually secured the party’s ticket.
“So, I’ve been going around appealing to all of them that we should work together. They all assured me that after the primaries, if I emerged, they would support me.
“And after my emergence, our leaders commenced the process of reconciliation,” he stated.
The APC candidate expressed optimism that the party would reclaim power in Oyo State in 2027, citing the backing of President Tinubu, party leaders, and grassroots supporters across the state.
“I am very confident that, by the grace of God, come May 29, 2027, the APC will reclaim power in Oyo State,” he said.
“With the support of our father, the president, and our leaders who are here, we are confident that, by the grace of God and with the support of our team across all strata of society, all levels of Oyo State, and all sectors of the economy and communities, we will emerge victorious.”
Ali also identified integrity, competence, and political experience as the major strengths he would deploy in the governorship contest.
“I am banking on my integrity. I am competent, I have the capacity, and I am well-experienced enough to ensure that we win the next election,” he added.
He further pointed to the calibre of political figures backing his ambition, including senators and former deputy governors, as evidence of the party’s preparedness for the contest.
Also speaking, the Chairman of the APC in Oyo State, Chief Moses Adeyemo, expressed confidence that the party would emerge victorious in the next governorship election with the support of President Tinubu.
Adeyemo also took a swipe at Governor Seyi Makinde, insisting that any candidate endorsed by the governor would fail at the polls.
“Our candidate is Senator Sarafadeen Ali, and we are not afraid of the current governor,” he said.
“Everybody knows that the current governor has been jumping from one party to another.
“And anybody who does that can never succeed. We know the direction we are heading, but we do not want to disclose it here.”
