2027: We have no options than to adopt direct primaries – Oyo APC
The Oyo State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has declared that it has no option other than to adopt direct primaries ahead of the 2027 general elections in the state.
The state APC Chairman, Chief Moses Adeyemo, made the declaration on Monday while receiving members of the party’s screening and appeal committees deployed from the APC National Secretariat in Abuja to Ibadan.
Members of the screening committee include former Speaker of the Ondo State House of Assembly, Hon. Taofiq AbdusSalam, Kamal Sanusi, Smart Oluwole, Tunde Kolade, and Olabamiji Agunloye.
The screening appeal committee is made up of Jibola Oduwole as chairman, alongside Abimbola Jack and Jelil Jimoh.
Speaking during the meeting, Adeyemo said the party had initially put mechanisms in place to achieve consensus among aspirants across all positions. He, however, noted that available reports suggest the party may have to resort to direct primaries in certain contests, including the governorship race.
The former deputy governor maintained that the APC would ensure a transparent, credible, and fair process if direct primaries eventually become necessary.
“We set machineries in motion to achieve consensus across the board, but reports available to me indicate that we may have to adopt the second option, which is direct primaries, in certain cases, including the governorship ticket,” he said.
“To this end, we shall work towards organising a free, fair, and credible exercise in all the affected areas, even as we cannot rule out the possibility of some aspirants having a rethink and supporting the consensus arrangement where necessary.”
The development comes amid increasing political activities within the Oyo APC as stakeholders intensify preparations ahead of the 2027 elections.