Defunct CPC Faction Rallies Behind Senator Sharafadeen Alli to Secure Oyo APC Governorship Ticket

The internal race for the Oyo State All Progressives Congress (APC) gubernatorial ticket has taken a major turn as leaders of the defunct Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) threw their political weight behind Senator Sharafadeen Alli.

The significant endorsement represents a strategic consolidation of legacy forces within the opposition party as preparations for the state’s next governance transition gather intense momentum. The CPC, which served as a vital founding pillar of the APC during the historic 2013 merger, still commands a robust grassroots follow-through across the state’s 33 local government areas.

Speaking at a well-attended stakeholders’ meeting in Ibadan, the coordinators of the defunct CPC bloc stated that their decision to back the lawmaker was born out of a rigorous assessment of all frontline contenders. They described Senator Alli, who currently represents Oyo South Senatorial District at the National Assembly, as a unifying figure capable of healing old factional wounds between the distinct political tendencies that have historically fractured the state chapter.

The leaders noted that the party cannot afford to enter the upcoming electoral contest with a divided house, emphasizing that Alli’s deep bureaucratic history makes him the most prepared candidate to challenge the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

“We are coming out boldly as the foundational legacy of the CPC to say that Senator Sharafadeen Alli is our choice,” declared Alhaji Mutalubi Akewugbagold, a prominent voice from the defunct party’s structure. “He is not an accidental politician. This is a leader who started from the grassroots as a local government chairman, served as Secretary to the State Government, and operated as Chief of Staff. He understands the unique administrative blueprint of Oyo State and has shown immense loyalty to the progressive cause. Whether the party decides to adopt a consensus approach or goes into a direct primary, our structures are fully activated to deliver his victory.”

The timing of this endorsement coincides with a broader realignment happening within the Oyo APC high command. Just weeks after Senator Alli formally declared his gubernatorial intentions and picked up preliminary expression forms, various stakeholder groups have begun building a strong coalition around his candidacy to prevent a chaotic, multi-factional primary battle.

Political observers in Ibadan suggest that locking down the backing of the CPC faction is an essential tactical victory for Alli. While the state chapter has traditionally been influenced heavily by the legacy of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), the CPC bloc holds an important swing vote among party delegates, particularly in Oyo North and parts of the Ibadan metropolis.

With the party high command working to ensure a rancor-free primary, this latest development signals to rival camps that the Oyo South Senator is successfully consolidating his base, shifting the pressure to other contenders hoping to mount a serious challenge for the ticket.