Oyo APC governorship aspirant Alli declares readiness for direct primaries

A governorship aspirant under the All Progressives Congress in Oyo State, Sharafadeen Alli, on Wednesday, declared his readiness for the conduct of the party primaries for the selection of the governorship and other candidates for the various elective positions, as being agitated by some aspirants.

Alli, currently representing Oyo South Senatorial District in the National Assembly, made this declaration while addressing party leaders and supporters during an APC stakeholders’ meeting held at the Theophilus Ogunlesi Hall, University College Hospital, Ibadan, the state capital.

The PUNCH reports that some governorship aspirants have resolved to resist the imposition of candidates for the various elective positions without recourse to due process.

It will also be recalled that the aspirants agreed to work together in the interest of the APC and promised to support whoever emerged as the party’s governorship candidate, provided the process is free, fair, transparent and without imposition.

However, on Wednesday, Alli, at the stakeholders meeting, which had in attendance the chieftains of the party, including Senator Ayo Adeseun, member representing Ido/Ibarapa East Federal Constituency, Remi Oseni, Segun Odebunmi popularly called Bunvic, among others, submitted that he would emerge the candidate of the party either through the conduct of the primaries or affirmation process.

Alli said, “With the support of the chieftains and other members of the party at the state, local governments and ward levels, I am going to clinch the party ticket either through the conduct of the primaries or affirmation process. We are not scared of the conduct of the primaries, as being agitated by some aspirants.

“What is of paramount concern to us is the unity among the members of the party. The APC is in Oyo State. I am appealing to our teeming supporters to conduct themselves in a peaceful manner.

“Let us reach out to our members at the grassroots level. Let us make known our plan. Let them see the reason why they must come out to vote during the primaries.

“I am assuring us that, whether through the conduct of the primaries or affirmation of the candidate, I am going to emerge as the candidate of the party and subsequently win the election in 2027,” he submitted.

In their separate remarks, Adeseun, Oseni, Odebunmi, popularly known as BUNVIC, and other APC chieftains urged party supporters to mobilise support for the candidacy of Ali.

Adeseun said, “Alli is the right choice for the party in 2027. If the leadership of the party decides to conduct the primaries as being agitated for by some aspirants, we are ready. My appeal to our teeming followers is to go back home to mobilise support for the candidacy of Ali.

“Alli is marketable. He has all that it takes to lead the party to victory in 2027.”

His position was corroborated by Oseni and Odebunmi and hundreds of APC supporters who were in attendance at the stakeholders meeting.