Folarin, Adelabu, Buhari hold closed-door APC meeting in Ibadan

By Adejayan Gbenga

Former Senate Leader and Oyo State Ambassador for Renewed Hope, Senator Teslim Folarin, on Thursday convened a closed-door meeting with prominent leaders of the All Progressives Congress in Oyo State as consultations ahead of the 2027 general elections gathered momentum.

The meeting, held in Ibadan, was attended by former Minister of Power, Chief Adebayo Adelabu; Senator Abdulfatai Buhari; former Oyo State Deputy Governor, Engr. Rauf Olaniyan; and other influential party leaders drawn from the state’s 33 local government areas.

Although details of the discussions were not officially disclosed, the gathering is believed to be part of ongoing efforts to reposition the APC in Oyo State, strengthen its internal structure and build consensus ahead of the next election cycle.

The meeting comes against the backdrop of recent developments within the state chapter of the party, particularly the emergence of Senator Sharafadeen Ali as the APC’s governorship candidate. Folarin, who convened Thursday’s meeting, had reportedly stayed away from several party meetings following Ali’s emergence.

The Oyo APC has also witnessed protests by different interest groups over the emergence of candidates for various elective positions ahead of the 2027 general elections, a development that has heightened concerns about internal cohesion within the party.

In a bid to address the disagreements, the state leadership constituted a reconciliation committee chaired by Senator Femi Lanlehin to engage aggrieved members and restore unity. State APC Chairman, Chief Moses Alake, has repeatedly urged party members to put aside their differences and work together in the interest of the party.

A source familiar with Thursday’s meeting said the leaders reviewed strategies for strengthening the APC’s grassroots structure across Oyo State and fostering greater collaboration among key stakeholders ahead of the 2027 polls.

According to the source, discussions also focused on mobilising support for President Bola Tinubu’s re-election bid and positioning the APC to secure victory in Oyo State during the 2027 presidential election, while sustaining ongoing efforts to rebuild unity within the party.