Five prominent members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Oyo State have expressed concerns over what they described as a worsening internal crisis within the party, warning that the situation could undermine its chances in the 2027 governorship election if left unresolved.
In a statement jointly signed by former Deputy Governor Rauf Aderemi Olaniyan, Musbau Asatola Asanike, Oyedele Hakeem Alao, Akeem Agbaje, and Usman Ololade Bakare, the party leaders alleged that information about the true state of the APC in Oyo State was not reaching President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
According to the signatories, the President could be making decisions without a full understanding of developments within the state chapter of the party, a situation they warned could have adverse consequences for the APC.
The party stakeholders also expressed concern that some members had allegedly begun conceding the 2027 governorship election to the opposition, describing such a disposition as evidence of declining confidence within the party.
They argued that the current leadership style in the Oyo APC had departed from the party’s principles of inclusiveness, internal democracy and collective participation, alleging that some individuals were promoting exclusion rather than consensus-building.
The group warned that continued marginalisation of party members could trigger widespread defections and weaken the APC’s electoral strength ahead of future elections.
The statement further criticised what it described as an increasing reliance on manipulation and institutional compromise instead of democratic processes, cautioning that such practices could jeopardise the party’s prospects in 2027.
While reaffirming their loyalty to President Tinubu, the signatories maintained that support for the President should be demonstrated through discipline, transparency and democratic leadership rather than by pursuing what they termed an exclusionary agenda in Oyo State.
They described their intervention as a patriotic appeal rather than a threat, stressing that preserving internal democracy within the APC in Oyo State was important not only for the party but also for democratic development in the South-West and Nigeria as a whole.
The group also recalled the party’s losses in the 2019 and 2023 governorship elections in Oyo State, warning that similar warning signs were emerging ahead of 2027. They urged the leadership of the APC to address the issues raised to avoid another electoral setback.
About The Author
