Acting in unison with the consensus approach adopted by leaders in Lagos and Ogun states, the apex leadership of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Oyo State, on Friday, endorsed Senator Sharafadeen Alli as the party’s consensus governorship candidate for next year’s election, signaling a major step towards internal unity and strategic alignment.

The endorsement was ratified during a high-level leadership summit held in Samonda, Ibadan, where prominent party stakeholders across the state converged to deliberate on the party’s electoral strategy ahead of the next general election.

Speaking at the gathering, Senator Ayo Adeseun explained that the meeting was convened primarily to affirm Senator Alli’s candidacy and build consensus among party leaders. According to him, the decision followed extensive consultations and was further reinforced by the position of President Bola Tinubu.

Adeseun revealed that he had previously met with the President in Abuja, where Tinubu reportedly provided strong justification for backing Alli as the party’s standard-bearer in Oyo State.

He emphasised that, as the national leader of the APC, the President’s preference carries significant weight and should be respected by party members.

“Mr President remains the leader of our party, and his opinion on who flies the party’s flag must be given due consideration,” Adeseun stated, noting that Alli had already declared his intention to contest the governorship seat prior to the endorsement.

Similarly, another leader of the party, Alhaji Fatai Ibikunle, reaffirmed the position of the party leadership, disclosing that he also held discussions with President Tinubu, who, according to him, endorsed Alli as the preferred candidate for the 2027 election in Oyo State.