A pressure group within the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Oyo State, Oyo Core Progressives (OCP) has cautioned that “handing over ” the party’s gubernatorial ticket to Sen Sarafa Alli may spell doom for the party in the 2027 elections.
The group, in a statement signed by its Coordinator Alh Tejumade Uthman, said “In politics, the implications for a governorship ticket is supposed to be reward for competence, service, and a track record that inspires public confidence. It is meant to go to individuals who have demonstrated the capacity to manage people, resources, and the complex demands of governance.”
OCP argued that “As we all know, Senator Sarafa Alli currently represents Oyo South Senatorial District in the National Assembly. For any senator seeking higher office therefore, the logical expectation is that his performance in the legislative chamber would naturally become a reference point.
” What bills did he sponsor that changed lives? What motions did he move that addressed the critical issues of his people? What constituency projects can he point to with pride? What IMPACTS has he made beyond the chamber?
“A dispassionate review of Senator Alli’s tenure so far reveals a glaring gap between expectation and delivery. His presence in the Senate has been largely unnoticed.
“There is little to show in terms of beneficial representation – no life-touching legislations directly from him, nor visible interventions/empowerments that directly lifted the living conditions of the Oyo South constituents.
“In an era where Nigerians are demanding accountability and performance, a senator with a thin legislative footprint should not be in line for promotion to the highest office in the state.
“Governance shouldn’t be a reward for pseudo loyalty. It is a serious responsibility, as Oyo State currently faces enormous challenges: decaying infrastructure, lack of infrastructure in the sur-urban spaces of the state, youth unemployment, insecurity, underfunded education and health sectors, and the need for economic diversification.”
The group added that “The next governor must be someone with vision, executive capacity, and a proven record of solving problems. Handing the ticket to someone whose senatorial performance has not generated excitement or tangible results sends the wrong message to party members and the electorate.
“It also risks demoralizing other aspirants within the APC who have paid their dues, built structures, and demonstrated commitment to the growth of the party at the grassroots.
“Politics thrives on merit and competition of ideas. When a ticket is perceived to be “gifted” rather than earned, it breeds apathy and weakens the party ahead of a general election.
“The APC, as a party that prides itself on progressive ideals, should be interrogating this choice carefully. A governorship ticket is not a retirement benefit. It is a mandate to serve over 7 million people.
“Oyo people deserve a candidate whose record can be defended on the campaign trail and in government.
“Since Senator Alli cannot, in all honesty, convince the Oyo people that his years in the Senate were not years of absence. Nor showcase any achievement from what he did with the opportunity given to him, he cannot, therefore, present himself for a bigger responsibility.
“Because governorship ticket is not meant to be gifted, but earned.
“And for a state like Oyo, with her history of political consciousness and demand for good governance, such a dangerous gamble should be avoided”.