By Babatunde Olayiwola
The All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship primary in Oyo State has come and gone. A winner emerged through the party’s recognised process, and that winner is Senator (Dr) Sharafadeen Abiodun Alli.
The exercise was conducted, votes were cast, and the outcome was declared. In every democratic contest, there can only be one winner, and in this instance, Senator Alli secured the mandate of the party faithful.
What should ordinarily follow such a process is maturity, reconciliation and collective preparation for the larger battle ahead. Instead, the party has continued to witness unnecessary agitation from some quarters seeking to reopen a contest that has already been concluded.
No amount of post-primary protest, emotional outburst or political pressure can substitute for the verdict reached through the APC’s internal democratic mechanism.
All aspirants are respected political figures and loyal members of the APC.
However, respect for his stature does not translate into automatic entitlement to the party’s governorship ticket. The APC is a political institution governed by rules, delegates and established procedures, not by personal expectations, popularity contests or emotional appeals. Once the delegates spoke and the process produced a winner, the honourable path became acceptance of the outcome and commitment to party unity.
It is important to remind all stakeholders that the APC does not belong to any single aspirant, no matter how prominent. The party is bigger than every individual ambition. The delegates who participated in the primary were not compelled by sentiment; they exercised their constitutional right to choose the candidate they considered best positioned to lead the party into the 2027 governorship election. Their decision deserves respect, not endless contestation.
Those encouraging continued agitation after the conclusion of the primary should pause and ask a simple question: could all the aspirants have emerged candidates at the same time? The answer is no.
In every competitive primary, several capable aspirants step forward, but only one eventually carries the flag. That is the essence of democracy. Today it is Senator Alli; tomorrow it could be another aspirant. What preserves a political party is not perpetual victory for one individual, but collective respect for the rules whenever victory or defeat occurs.
Senator Sharafadeen Alli’s emergence was neither accidental nor imposed. It was the product of consultations, grassroots acceptance, political experience and the confidence reposed in him by the delegates. His long-standing contributions to the APC in Oyo State, his legislative record and his extensive network across the state gave him a strong foundation going into the primary. The delegates made their choice, and that choice reflected without ambiguity.
Those still insisting that the result should be overturned risk sending a dangerous signal that party primaries matter only when a preferred aspirant wins. Such a position weakens internal democracy and creates avoidable divisions. A political party cannot preach democratic values to the electorate while refusing to respect its own internal processes.
The bitter truth is that defeat, though painful, is part of politics. Great leaders are often remembered not only for how they win, but also for how they respond when they lose. This is therefore the moment for all former aspirants and their supporters, to rise above disappointment, embrace reconciliation and work with the party leadership to strengthen the APC ahead of 2027.
Oyo APC supporters must resist every attempt to deepen post-primary bitterness. The focus should now be on rebuilding unity, mobilising members across the 33 local government areas and presenting a formidable front to reclaim power in the state. Internal quarrels will not win elections; unity, discipline and shared purpose will.
Senator Sharafadeen Alli has repeatedly extended a hand of fellowship to all tendencies within the party. That gesture should be reciprocated. The primary is over. The candidate has emerged. The responsibility before every loyal APC member is clear: close ranks, support the party’s flag bearer and work tirelessly for victory in the 2027 general election.
The mandate has been decided. Senator Sharafadeen Alli won the APC governorship primary. The time for contest is over; the time for unity and victory is now.
