Former Oyo State Governor and Senator, Teslim Folarin, has thrown his weight behind the All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate, Senator Sharafadeen Alli, calling on aggrieved party members to set aside their differences and unite for the party’s victory in the 2027 general elections.
Folarin made the appeal on Monday, urging aggrieved aspirants and their supporters to embrace reconciliation as preparations for the elections gather momentum. He demonstrated his support for Alli by raising the candidate’s hand at the gathering.
Acknowledging the dissatisfaction among some party members following the governorship primary, Folarin said it was understandable for aspirants who had devoted years to pursuing their political ambitions to feel disappointed by the outcome.
“I have invested 26 years of my life in becoming governor. If I feel cheated, am I not expected to be angry?” he asked, stressing the need for party leaders to listen to aggrieved members and make genuine efforts to address their concerns.
The former governor, however, expressed concern over the slow pace of the reconciliation process being handled by a committee led by Professor Taoheed Adedoja and Senator Femi Lanlehin, among others. He estimated that the committee had achieved only about 20 per cent of its target.
According to Folarin, mutual grievances among party stakeholders had hindered progress, but he maintained that the approaching elections made reconciliation and unity imperative.
As part of efforts to resolve the crisis, he disclosed that he had held discussions with former Minister of Power, Adebayo Adelabu; Senator Abdulfatai Buhari; and former Deputy Governor, Rauf Olaniyan, at Iyaganku, Ibadan.
Folarin urged APC members to begin aligning with Alli, effective Monday, noting that President Bola Tinubu’s appointment of him as coordinator of the Oyo State Presidential Campaign Council placed a responsibility on him to work towards the success of all the party’s candidates in the state.
He said the APC must improve on the votes it secured for Tinubu in Oyo State during the 2023 presidential election and ensure victory for its governorship and legislative candidates in 2027.
The senator also called for a review of the party’s reward system, arguing that members who had contributed to its growth and electoral success should be recognised and rewarded rather than neglected.
He urged Alli to work closely with party leaders to accommodate aggrieved members, warning against sidelining experienced politicians in the reconciliation process.
“We won’t allow Alli to rest until all aggrieved members get their own benefits,” Folarin declared.
He further appealed to party leaders and supporters to take the message of reconciliation to their respective groups, insisting that the limited time remaining before the elections made it urgent for the APC to resolve its internal differences and present a united front in 2027.
