The political atmosphere in Oyo State shifted dramatically on Thursday after Senator Sharafadeen Alli emerged as the governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress ahead of the 2027 gubernatorial election, defeating former Minister of Power, Adebayo Adelabu, and several other aspirants in a fiercely contested primary election. The victory marks a major political breakthrough for Alli and signals a new chapter in the battle for control of Oyo State.
According to the official results announced after the statewide direct primary exercise, Senator Alli secured a landslide victory with 578,143 votes, far ahead of his closest rivals. Senator Buhari polled 37,265 votes, while Adelabu managed to secure only 19,193 votes despite months of intense political mobilization and high expectations surrounding his ambition.
The outcome immediately sparked jubilant celebrations among supporters of the Oyo South senator across different parts of the state, especially in Ibadan where Alli enjoys strong grassroots influence and longstanding political networks. Political observers described the victory as a decisive statement within the APC structure in Oyo State, especially considering the fierce rivalry that had developed between Alli and Adelabu in recent months. ..READ THE FULL ARTICLE HERE .
Before the primary election, the contest had generated significant controversy within the party. Reports of alleged attempts to impose a consensus candidate created deep divisions among party stakeholders, with several camps accusing one another of trying to manipulate the process. Adelabu had repeatedly rejected claims that President Bola Tinubu or the APC national leadership had endorsed Alli ahead of the primary, insisting that all aspirants deserved a fair and transparent contest.
Adelabu, who resigned as Minister of Power in April 2026 to focus fully on his governorship ambition, entered the race as one of the most recognizable political figures in Oyo APC. The former Deputy Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria had previously contested the governorship election in 2019 under the APC and again in 2023 under the Accord Party before returning to the APC fold. His latest defeat therefore represents another major setback in his long running quest to govern Oyo State.
Despite the overwhelming margin recorded by Alli, the primary election did not end without controversy. Shortly after voting concluded, Adelabu alleged widespread irregularities in several parts of the state. Speaking with journalists, he claimed that while the exercise in his own ward was peaceful and transparent, reports from other zones indicated incidents of intimidation, manipulation, and electoral misconduct.
The former minister alleged that elections allegedly commenced ahead of schedule in some wards, while some party members were prevented from voting through intimidation and violence. He further claimed that results were allegedly compiled in areas where voting did not even take place. Adelabu also accused certain party officials of secretly collaborating with specific aspirants to influence the outcome of the exercise.
He disclosed plans to submit formal petitions to the party leadership over the alleged irregularities, insisting that the APC must avoid imposing candidates on members if the party hopes to remain united ahead of the 2027 governorship election.
However, officials overseeing the primary dismissed the allegations and maintained that the exercise was peaceful, transparent, and credible across the state. Members of the APC monitoring committee praised party supporters for conducting themselves peacefully during the process and urged aggrieved aspirants to rally behind the eventual winner for the overall success of the party in the coming election.
Senator Sharafadeen Alli, popularly known as BSA among his supporters, is currently representing Oyo South Senatorial District in the National Assembly. The Ibadan born politician has remained influential in Oyo politics for decades, having previously served as Secretary to the State Government and Chief of Staff under former Governor Rashidi Ladoja. Over the years, he has built a reputation as a grassroots politician with strong connections across major political blocs in the state.
His emergence as APC governorship candidate now sets the stage for what is expected to become one of the most closely watched political contests ahead of the 2027 elections in the South West region. Analysts believe the outcome of the APC primary could significantly reshape political alignments in Oyo State as parties intensify preparations for the governorship race.
