Tinubu meets Folarin over Alli’s Oyo bid as APC seeks unity among stakeholders ahead of the 2027 governorship election in Oyo State
President Bola Tinubu met former Senate Leader Senator Teslim Folarin at the Presidential Villa in Abuja on Tuesday, 21 July 2026, in what party sources described as part of efforts to strengthen support for the All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate, Sharafadeen Alli, ahead of the 2027 Oyo State election.
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The meeting is believed to be aimed at reconciling key APC stakeholders in Oyo State and building a united front as the party attempts to reclaim the governorship seat from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) after two consecutive defeats.
Folarin, who represented Oyo Central Senatorial District in the Senate, was the APC governorship candidate in the 2023 election but lost to incumbent Governor Seyi Makinde of the PDP.
The former senator did not participate in the APC governorship primary that produced Alli as the party’s candidate for 2027, effectively ending his own ambition to contest the election under the party’s platform.
A source familiar with the meeting said Tinubu meets Folarin over Alli’s Oyo bid as part of a broader strategy to bring influential party figures together ahead of the campaign season.
The source said the President assured Folarin that his political allies would be considered in future arrangements at both state and federal levels, while encouraging him to support the party’s candidate.
Folarin is expected to brief his supporters following the meeting as the APC works to resolve internal disagreements and present a stronger challenge in Oyo State.
Alli emerged as the APC’s candidate after consultations among party leaders and stakeholders, with the party presenting him as a consensus figure capable of improving unity within the organisation.
However, his emergence was followed by disagreements from some aspirants, including former Minister of Power Adebayo Adelabu, who questioned the process and called for clarity over the outcome of the primary election.
A group of dissatisfied aspirants known as the G5 also expressed concerns about Alli’s selection and urged the party leadership to address their grievances.
Despite the disagreements, APC leaders have continued to appeal for reconciliation, warning that internal divisions could weaken the party’s chances against the PDP, which has governed Oyo State since 2019.
Alli was presented as the party’s governorship candidate alongside his running mate, Adesoji Adedeji, during a ceremony in Ibadan on 2 July 2026, following endorsement by APC leaders in the state.
The APC’s renewed mobilisation comes as political parties begin early preparations for the February 2027 governorship election, with the ruling party seeking to regain control of Oyo State after unsuccessful attempts in 2019 and 2023.
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Folarin’s support is considered significant because of his experience, political network and previous role as the party’s standard-bearer in the state, making his alignment with Alli a potentially important step in APC’s reconciliation efforts.
