Sen Sarafa Hits Momentum: Who Can Stop Him In Oyo 2027?

Political alignments ahead of the 2027 governorship election in Oyo State are beginning to take shape, with the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate, Senator Sharafadeen Alli, receiving support from prominent party figures as he works to strengthen his position ahead of the contest.

The latest development is the decision of former Senate Leader, Senator Teslim Folarin, to publicly back Alli after disagreements over the APC governorship primary. Folarin’s declaration of support is significant for a party seeking to put its internal differences behind it before the election.

Folarin, who was the APC’s governorship candidate in 2023, made his position known in Ibadan on October 19, when Alli and other party members visited him. He raised Alli’s hand in a show of support and urged aggrieved party members to put the past behind them and work towards the party’s success in 2027.

His decision is expected to feature prominently in the APC’s efforts to unite its different political interests across the state. The party had faced disagreements following the primary that produced Alli as its candidate, making reconciliation among its leaders an important part of its preparations.

Senator Abdulfatai Buhari, who represents Oyo North Senatorial District, has also featured in discussions around efforts to consolidate support for the APC ahead of the election. The party’s broader mobilisation drive is centred on building unity among its leaders and strengthening its grassroots structures.

For Alli, the challenge is not only to secure the backing of influential politicians but also to translate that support into wider acceptance across Oyo’s 33 local government areas and 351 wards.

His campaign has also been associated with the PBAT Door-to-Door Movement, which is designed to take the APC’s message directly to voters through household and ward-level engagement.

At a gathering at the Obafemi Awolowo Stadium in Ibadan, Alli told party supporters that the APC had stayed out of government in Oyo State for too long. The remark reflected the party’s determination to return to power after losing the governorship election to Governor Seyi Makinde in 2019.

Another development being discussed in political circles is the reported movement of supporters between parties, including claims that members of the Allied Peoples Movement (APM) are leaving for the APC in significant numbers. Such reports, if sustained, could affect the calculations of the parties involved. However, the scale of the alleged defections and the number of APM members involved require confirmation.

The political movement of Sunday Oni, who was associated with the Obidient campaign for Peter Obi in the 2023 presidential election, has also drawn attention. Oni reportedly joined the APC with supporters and pledged to work for the party ahead of 2027.

However, the Obidient Movement in Oyo State subsequently disputed claims that Oni was its recognised leader and denied that the movement had collectively endorsed Alli or defected to the APC. The distinction is important, as the decision of an individual or group of supporters does not necessarily represent the position of an entire political movement.

While the APC works to consolidate its support base, the party will also face questions from its opponents over its policy proposals and record.

Bimbo Adekanmbi, the APM governorship candidate, has challenged Alli to explain his record on local government autonomy. Adekanmbi questioned what Alli had done on the issue during his time in the Senate, arguing that the promise to grant local governments greater autonomy should be examined against his legislative record.

The challenge has placed local government administration among the issues likely to feature in the campaign, particularly as candidates seek to convince voters that their proposals can be translated into practical policies.

Meanwhile, Makinde’s succession remains a major factor in the unfolding contest. The governor’s political influence, the ruling camp’s eventual strategy and the strength of the opposition parties will all shape the race as the election approaches.

With Folarin’s support, ongoing grassroots mobilisation and reported political realignments, Alli appears to be strengthening his position within the APC as the 2027 race takes shape.

But the question remains: who can stop Sarafa?

Governor Seyi Makinde’s succession plan, the eventual candidate of the ruling camp, the strength of other opposition parties and the APC’s ability to maintain unity will all play important roles in determining how the contest unfolds. Alli’s opponents will have their own plans, and the coming months will reveal how effectively they can challenge his campaign.

For now, the political calculations are far from over. The real test will be whether the support Alli is gathering can translate into votes when Oyo State goes to the polls in 2027.