Six governorship aspirants in the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Oyo State have rejected the emergence of Senator Sharafadeen Alli as the party’s candidate for the 2027 governorship election, alleging that due process was not followed.

The APC recently announced Alli as its governorship candidate after its primary election, which featured 11 aspirants, including Chief Adebayo Adelabu, Dr. Adewale Kareem, Dr. Muyiwa Gbadegesin, Barrister Akeem Agbaje, Engineer Hakeem Alao, Engineer Rauf Olaniyan, Dr. Ayobami Lam-Adesina, Prince Musibau Asanike, Senator Abdulfatai Buhari, Mr. Ololade Bakare and Alli.

However, six of the aspirants Engineer Hakeem Alao, Engineer Rauf Olaniyan, Dr. Ayobami Lam-Adesina, Barrister Akeem Agbaje, Mr. Ololade Bakare and Prince Musibau Asanike have challenged the outcome, insisting that the party has yet to comply with the provisions of the Electoral Act in selecting its candidate.

The aggrieved aspirants stated their position after meeting with a reconciliation committee established by the party to address post-primary grievances. The committee is chaired by Senator Olufemi Lanlehin and Professor Taoheed Adedoja.

Speaking on behalf of the group, Engineer Hakeem Alao said the aspirants had presented their concerns to the committee and maintained that the APC currently has no valid governorship candidate in the state.

“We have intimated the committee of our grievances and made our position known. As of now, there is no candidate because the provisions of the Electoral Act have not been fulfilled,” Alao said.

He expressed confidence that the internal dispute would be resolved, adding that the aspirants remain committed to the party.

“We are one family. We will eventually have a candidate, and whoever emerges at the end of the process, we will support. But for now, we maintain that the APC has no governorship candidate in Oyo State,” he added.