Ibadan – Senior figures of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Oyo State have announced Senator Sharafadeen Alli as the party’s consensus candidate for the 2027 gubernatorial election. The endorsement was made at a gathering of party leaders and members from the state’s five geopolitical zones on Friday in the capital, Ibadan.
Senator Sharafadeen Alli, an Ibadan native who represents Oyo South Senatorial District in the Senate, was confirmed as the sole APC flag‑bearer for the upcoming governorship race. According to party chieftain Senator Hamzat Adeseun, who hails from Ogbomoso, the meeting was convened specifically to ratify Alli’s candidacy after “extensive consultations” and in line with the position of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
“Mr. President remains the leader of our party, and his opinion on who flies the party’s flag must be given due consideration,” Adeseun told the assembled delegates.
Alhaji Fatai Ibikunle, another senior APC leader from Ibarapa, reiterated the endorsement, noting that he had also discussed the matter with President Tinubu. “The President has already endorsed Alli as the preferred candidate for the 2027 election in Oyo State,” Ibikunle said, urging other aspirants to support the consensus choice for the benefit of party unity.
The consensus decision follows a pattern of internal coordination within the APC ahead of the 2027 general elections, where party leadership seeks to present unified tickets in key states. Oyo State, a political stronghold in Nigeria’s southwest, is expected to be a closely watched contest, with the governing APC aiming to retain the governorship after the current administration’s term ends in 2027.
The announcement is likely to shape the early phases of the campaign, as potential rivals within the party are expected to align with the consensus or step aside. The APC’s unified stance may also influence opposition strategies, as rival parties assess the strength of the consensus candidate.
Further details on Alli’s campaign platform and upcoming party activities are anticipated in the coming weeks as the 2027 electoral timetable progresses.
