As anti-Alli aspirants split over opposition to candidate • President expects resolution of crisis in two weeks

PRESIDENT Bola Tinubu, who met with the Renewed Hope Ambassador of Oyo State, Senator Teslim Folarin, late on Tuesday, at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, has asked the chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC) to end the feud in the state’s chapter of the party.

Investigations by the Nigerian Tribune confirmed that President Tinubu invited Folarin to his office late to discuss matters relating to the emergence of the governorship candidate of the party in Oyo State, Senator Sharafadeen Abiodun Alli.

Folarin and three other chieftains of the party, including former Minister of Power, Adebayo Adelabu, former deputy governor, Rauf Olaniyan, and Senator Fatai Buhari, had met in Folarin’s house two weeks ago, and resolved to work for the victory of President Tinubu in the 2027 election without a mention of the governorship election.

The resolution of the meeting sent shock waves to leaders of the APC, even as another team of contestants, under the aegis of G6, announced days after the meeting of the Folarin group that Oyo APC had no recognised governorship candidate yet.

It was gathered that the aggrieved members are concerned about the reward system in the party as the party structure in Abuja appears to favour those who did not work for the unity of the party each time there is an appointment to make.

Some of the members had pointed out the fact that while Adelabu worked against the party in the 2023 election, he was eventually named the ministerial candidate.

Again, recently, when he resigned the position, the senatorial candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the 2023 election was named as the new minister.

A source said that when the party appeared to be in trouble, the leaders knew who could rally together, but that when the largesse of political positions is to be apportioned, those who did not contribute to the fortunes of the party appeared to be favoured.

Said a source: “For instance, when Adelabu was made the Minister of Power, he assumed leadership of the party, and it was clear that the structure was collapsing. It was obvious to everyone that the centre was no longer holding. Thankfully, the leaders in Abuja recognised the capability of the former Senate Leader, Senator Teslim Folarin, who was named the Renewed Hope Ambassador. He was able to unite the structures, and the party started breathing well again.

“Many were again, surprised that the governorship candidate did not emerge through enough consultative process; this is the genesis of the current agitation.”

Pressure had mounted on the reconciliation committee put together by the state chapter of the APC as more chieftains continue to oppose the governorship and especially Oyo North senatorial candidate.

It was gathered that along the line, the Presidency resolved to decisively intervene in the crisis, even as the governorship candidate, Senator Alli, also kick-started diplomatic moves aimed at dousing the tension.

As a result of his diplomatic moves, it was gathered that some of the aggrieved aspirants started pledging loyalty to the governorship candidate and the party leadership in the state.

At least, two of the aggrieved aspirants were said to have backed down from the protests as of Monday.

Sources also stated that during the meeting between Tinubu and Folarin, the former Senate Leader was asked to rein in the protesting chieftains of the party in the state and ensure that everyone maintains a united front behind the ticket of President Tinubu and Senator Alli as the governorship candidate.

Said a source-in-the-know: “The Renewed Hope Ambassador in Oyo State, Senator Folarin, met with President Tinubu on Tuesday evening.

He was asked to give a situation report, after which President Tinubu told him how important it is to ensure every member of the party goes into the 2027 election as a united family. The president told him to work for his victory as president and the victory of the National Assembly candidates and that of the governor and the House of Assembly candidates. The president expects that within two weeks, a good result would have been achieved.” (Nigerian Tribune)

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