Sen Alli Wins Oyo APC Governorship Primary As Adelabu Alleges Irregularities

The senator representing Oyo South Senatorial District in the National Assembly, Sarafadeen Alli, has won the Oyo State APC gubernatorial primary election .

Alli, who polled 578,143 votes, was followed by Senator Buhari with 37,265 votes, while former minister of Power, Oloye Bayo Adelabu, secured 19,193 votes.

Meanwhile, the Okanlomo Odua/Bada Olubadan, Dotun Sanusi, has congratulated Alli on his landslide victory.

He said the resounding victory reflects the people’s trust, confidence, and overwhelming support for your leadership, vision and commitment to the progress of Oyo State.

In a statement yesterday, Sanusi said, “We also extend our heartfelt appreciation to the entire APC family, ROCOF/JDS group, market men and women, and all loyal supporters whose dedication, prayers, and steadfast commitment made this victory possible.

“Today’s victory is not just for one person, but for every progressive voice yearning for a better and prosperous Oyo State.

“May this be the beginning of greater victories ahead as we move united, stronger, and more determined.”

Congratulations once again to our leader, Senator Sarafa Alli! Congratulations to the APC family! Congratulations to the good people of Oyo State! Forward ever, backwards never”.

Meanwhile, one of the governorship aspirants in the Oyo State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Adebayo Adelabu, has raised concerns over alleged irregularities during the party’s governorship primary election held across the state.

Speaking with journalists after voting at Ward 9, Ibadan South-East Local Government Area, Adelabu described the exercise in his ward as peaceful, transparent and credible, noting that he enjoyed overwhelming support from party members in the area.

According to him, out of about 437 registered party members in the ward, over 430 voted in his favour.

“This is my ancestral home and my natural ward. I am satisfied with what we witnessed here today. The process was peaceful, free and fair without any violence or intimidation,” he said.

However, the APC chieftain alleged that reports from several wards across the state indicated cases of electoral misconduct, intimidation and manipulation of results.

Adelabu claimed that in some wards, elections were allegedly conducted before the officially scheduled time, while in others, party members were prevented from voting through intimidation and violence.

“In some places, elections did not even take place, yet results were allegedly written and recorded. This is not good for our democracy, and something must be done about it,” he stated.

The former Deputy Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria further alleged that some party executives connived with certain aspirants to impose what he described as “consensus candidates” despite the party’s national leadership directive for a free and transparent direct primary election.

“There was nothing like consensus candidates. Eleven aspirants purchased forms and were cleared to run in the race. Every aspirant should have been given a level playing ground,” Adelabu added.

He disclosed that petitions would be submitted to the appropriate authorities over the alleged irregularities across the five geopolitical zones of Oyo State, including Ibadan, Oke-Ogun, Ogbomosho, Ibarapa and Oyo.

Adelabu also warned against attempts to impose an unpopular candidate on the party through manipulated results.