By Maroof Asudemade
With the emergence of Senator Sharafadeen Alli as the governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Oyo State, the primary election season has effectively ended. Congratulations to BSA. Focus must now shift from internal competition to the larger task of winning the governorship election.
History offers valuable lessons in this regard. Oyo APC cannot afford a repeat of the internal crises that contributed significantly to the party’s defeats in 2019 and 2023. Victory at the primary is only the first hurdle; the real contest lies ahead.
I have some recommendations for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. As the undisputed leader of the APC, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu should intervene early and decisively to promote reconciliation within the Oyo chapter of the party.
First, he should convene a meeting involving all governorship aspirants, party elders, elected officials and critical stakeholders. Such a meeting would send a powerful message that everyone remains important to the party regardless of the outcome of the primary.
Second, the President should personally appeal to aggrieved aspirants and their supporters to place party interest above personal ambition. Every major aspirant invested enormous resources, time and political capital in the contest. Their grievances should not be dismissed or trivialized.
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Third, there should be a deliberate effort to accommodate all tendencies within the party structure and campaign organization. Inclusion is often the most effective antidote to post-primary bitterness.
There are also recommendations that Oyo APC leadership will need to adopt.
They must avoid the Winner-Takes-All syndrome. The greatest mistake victorious camps make after primaries is to behave as though the contest was a war and the defeated camps are conquered enemies. The APC leadership must resist this temptation. Every aspirant who participated in the primary remains a valuable political asset whose support base will be needed during the governorship election.
There is an urgent need to set up a Reconciliation Committee. Time is of the essence. A high-powered reconciliation committee comprising respected elders and neutral stakeholders should begin consultations with aggrieved aspirants and their supporters. The objective should be genuine reconciliation rather than symbolic meetings designed merely for photographs.
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The party leadership should reach out to Chief Bayo Adelabu and other equally important aspirants. Chief Bayo Adelabu, Senator AbdulFatai Buhari, Barrister Akeem Agbaje, Engr. Rauf Olaniyan and other aspirants command significant followings across the state. The party should not assume their supporters will automatically transfer loyalty to the candidate. Deliberate engagement, respect and accommodation are necessary.
The leadership must not shy away from addressing questions about the primary process. Where concerns exist regarding the conduct of the primary, party leaders should provide explanations and engage members honestly. Silence often fuels suspicion. Transparency can help reduce resentment and restore confidence.
Oyo APC leadership must build a truly inclusive campaign structure. The campaign council should reflect all tendencies within the party. Every major bloc should see itself represented in the structure and decision-making process.
Those who feel ownership of a campaign are more likely to work enthusiastically for its success.
There is a need to focus on the general election, not internal victories. The APC’s opponent is not within the party. The opponent is the incumbent administration and the electoral challenge ahead.
Every day spent fighting internal battles is a day lost in preparing for the governorship election.
Equally important, I have a word for Senator Sharafadeen Alli. Victory comes with responsibility. Senator Alli should immediately embark on a reconciliation tour across the state, personally meeting fellow aspirants and influential stakeholders. Magnanimity in victory often achieves what power cannot. A candidate who unites the party stands a far better chance of winning the confidence of the electorate.
In conclusion, the emergence of Senator Sharafadeen Alli presents Oyo APC with an opportunity to reset and rebuild. However, unity cannot be decreed; it must be cultivated through consultation, inclusion, humility and mutual respect. The lesson from previous electoral cycles is clear: divided parties rarely win governorship elections. If Oyo APC desires victory in the next election, reconciliation must begin now, not months before the polls.
The primary election is over. The task of building a united and victorious APC in Oyo State has just begun.
