Senator Sarafadeen Alli has emerged as the governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress in Oyo State after recording a commanding victory in the party’s primary election.
Alli secured an impressive 578,143 votes to defeat other contenders in the keenly contested exercise held across the state. Senator Buhari polled 37,265 votes, while former Minister of Power, Adebayo Adelabu, garnered 19,193 votes.
The outcome triggered widespread celebration among supporters of the APC stalwart, with prominent businessman and Okanlomo Oodua/Bada Olubadan, Dotun Sanusi, describing the victory as a strong indication of the confidence party members have in Alli’s leadership and vision for Oyo State.
In a congratulatory message, Sanusi commended APC members, market groups, political associates and supporters for their commitment throughout the primary process. He noted that the outcome represented a major boost for progressive forces ahead of the 2027 governorship election in the state.
Despite Alli’s overwhelming victory, the exercise was immediately overshadowed by allegations of irregularities raised by Adelabu and members of his camp.
Speaking after voting at Ward 9 in Ibadan South-East Local Government Area, Adelabu maintained that the exercise in his ward was peaceful and transparent, claiming he enjoyed massive support from party members in the area. According to him, more than 430 of the approximately 437 registered members voted in his favour.
While expressing satisfaction with the conduct of the election in his constituency, the former Deputy Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria alleged that reports from several parts of the state pointed to incidents of intimidation, manipulation and electoral malpractice.
Adelabu further alleged that voting commenced ahead of schedule in some wards, while party members in certain areas were allegedly prevented from participating through threats and violence. He also claimed that results were compiled in locations where elections reportedly did not take place.
The APC chieftain accused some party officials of collaborating with selected aspirants in an attempt to impose consensus candidates, contrary to the directive of the party’s national leadership which approved a direct primary election.
According to Adelabu, all 11 aspirants who purchased nomination forms and passed the screening process deserved a fair and equal opportunity during the exercise.
He disclosed that formal petitions regarding the alleged irregularities would be submitted to relevant party authorities, covering complaints from Ibadan, Oke-Ogun, Ogbomosho, Ibarapa and Oyo zones.
Adelabu also warned against what he described as attempts to impose an unpopular candidate on party members through manipulated outcomes.
However, officials supervising the primary election dismissed allegations of bias and malpractice, insisting that the exercise was peaceful, credible and transparent across the state.
A member of the primary election committee, Abdulsalam, stated that monitors deployed across Oyo State observed orderly conduct during voting, adding that the atmosphere remained calm throughout the exercise. He also dismissed claims that the Presidency endorsed any aspirant before the poll.
Similarly, Chairman of the APC Primary Election Monitoring Committee in Oyo State, Chief Ayo Afolabi, praised party members for their peaceful conduct and impressive turnout during the exercise.
Afolabi urged aggrieved aspirants and party faithful to unite behind the party’s candidate ahead of the 2027 governorship election, expressing confidence that the APC would emerge stronger after the primary.