Tension has gripped the Oyo State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) following the circulation of a purported list of “consensus” candidates for future elections, sparking discontent among party aspirants.
The controversial list, which surfaced over the weekend, allegedly contained names of individuals selected for key positions, including governorship, deputy governorship, senatorial seats, and House of Representatives constituencies.
Among those named was Sharafadeen Alli, who reportedly emerged as the party’s preferred gubernatorial candidate. Alli, currently representing Oyo South Senatorial District, previously served as Secretary to the Oyo State Government.
The list also identified Soji Adedeji as the proposed deputy governorship candidate. He is the younger brother of Zacchaeus Adedeji, the Executive Chairman of the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS).
Further details suggested that Aderemi Oseni had been pencilled in for Oyo South Senatorial District, while Yunus Akintunde was expected to seek re-election in Oyo Central. Meanwhile, Hannah Ogunrinsan was listed as the preferred candidate for Oyo North Senatorial District.
For the House of Representatives, several names were included, such as Faruk Arisekola, Funke Adesiyan, and Idris Ajimobi, son of former governor Abiola Ajimobi. Others listed include Akeem Adeyemi, Segun Odebunmi, and Olamiju Alao-Akala, among many others.
However, the emergence of the list has reportedly angered many aspirants who had invested significant resources in their political ambitions. Several party members, speaking anonymously, described the development as unsettling and capable of causing internal divisions within the party.
Despite the growing controversy, the APC leadership in Oyo State has dismissed the document as entirely fabricated. The party’s Publicity Secretary, Olawale Sadare, categorically denied the authenticity of the list.
“It is fake,” Sadare stated, adding that the party had launched an investigation to identify those responsible for its circulation. He further assured party members that no official candidate selection process had begun.
According to him, the APC has not yet opened the process for expressions of interest, nominations, or primaries ahead of the 2027 elections, making any such list premature and misleading.
The incident underscores ongoing internal sensitivities within the party, as stakeholders remain cautious about actions that could undermine unity ahead of future electoral contests.
