President Bola Tinubu met with former Senate Leader Teslim Folarin at the Presidential Villa in Abuja on Tuesday as part of a broader effort to unify the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Oyo State ahead of the February 2027 governorship election. The meeting is seen as a critical step in reconciling factions within the party, which has been plagued by internal divisions since the emergence of Sharafadeen Alli as the APC candidate for the upcoming poll.
Meeting Details and Tinubu's Assurance
A source close to Folarin, who spoke on condition of anonymity, confirmed that the meeting was aimed at resolving tensions within the Oyo APC. According to the source, President Tinubu assured Folarin that his loyalists would be integrated into power-sharing arrangements at both state and federal levels. The source stated: "The president is working to ensure that all key stakeholders are carried along. Folarin and his supporters will not be left out of the political equation." Following the meeting, Folarin is expected to address his supporters on the outcome.
Folarin's Political Background
Teslim Folarin, who represented Oyo Central senatorial district in the Senate, was the APC's governorship candidate in the 2023 election. He lost to incumbent Governor Seyi Makinde of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), who has since defected to the Allied Peoples Movement (APM). Folarin's ambitions for a 2027 run were effectively closed when the party hierarchy settled on Alli as the consensus candidate without Folarin participating in the primary process.
Controversy Surrounding Alli's Emergence
Alli's emergence as the APC candidate was not without controversy. He was presented alongside his running mate, Adesoji Adedeji, at a ceremony in Ibadan on July 2, following an endorsement by Oyo APC leaders and stakeholders who described the arrangement as a consensus backed by the President. However, former Minister of Power Adebayo Adelabu, who resigned his cabinet position to contest the primary, pushed back against the outcome. Adelabu urged party members to ignore what he called premature claims about a consensus and called on the national leadership to formally declare a primary winner. Alli was reported to have defeated Adelabu and several other aspirants, including former Deputy Governor Rauf Olaniyan, Senator Abdulfatai Buhari, Akeem Agbaje, and Oyedele Alao.
G5 Opposition and Party Unity
A faction of five aggrieved aspirants, known as the G5, also publicly opposed Alli's emergence and demanded that the party take formal steps to address their concerns. The G5's opposition highlights the deep divisions within the Oyo APC, which party leaders have warned could damage the party's chances of defeating Governor Makinde in 2027. The APC has not held the Oyo governorship since Makinde won in 2019, and the party failed again in 2023.
Stakes for the 2027 Election
The 2027 contest represents another attempt by the APC to end the PDP's hold on the state. Party leaders have urged dissatisfied members to close ranks, warning that internal divisions could harm the party's electoral prospects. According to The Punch, the source described Folarin's potential support as significant, given his influence within the party structure and his background as the APC's most recent flag bearer in the state. The source noted: "Folarin's backing is crucial for the APC's campaign to unseat Governor Makinde."
Tinubu's Broader Reconciliation Efforts
President Tinubu's meeting with Folarin is part of wider reconciliation efforts within the Oyo APC. Legit.ng previously reported on the APC's primary process in Oyo State and the controversy surrounding Alli's emergence. In a related development, Tinubu had earlier forwarded the name of Bayo Adelabu as a minister representing Oyo State, raising curiosity among stakeholders. Adelabu contested against Folarin during the March 18 governorship election on the Accord Party's platform. Legal luminary Wale Adeagbo suggested that the President may have other options for the embattled former senator.
