Oyo State All Progressives Congress (APC) stakeholders have affirmed their support for Senator Sharafadeen Alli as the party’s 2027 gubernatorial candidate, stating that blackmail will not derail their chosen alignment.
A statement released on Monday by the Oyo State APC Stakeholders Forum dismissed allegations that Federal Inland Revenue Service Chairman Zacch Adedeji manipulated the primaries to favor the senator.
The position of the leaders was conveyed in a statement signed by Mr Femi Aremu, on behalf of the Oyo State APC Stakeholders Forum, on Monday, and made available to the Nigerian Tribune.
The leaders observed that the fact that all Oyo APC stakeholders and influential persons aligned with Senator Sharafadeen Alli “only exposed the frustration of those who believed political power could be sustained through personal ego and isolation from party structures.”
According to the leaders, no amount of deliberate falsehood and blackmail can erase the “fact that many APC members had long expressed dissatisfaction with the former Power Minister, Bayo Adelabu’s style of politics.
“Even many of his close associates quietly distanced themselves because they saw the disconnect between him and the party base. Politics is ultimately about people.
“What is leadership if those around you feel abandoned, neglected, and disconnected from your political journey?” the stakeholders queried.
“Rather than concocting false accusations about misuse of public funds, attention should be focused on why a supposedly formidable political figure failed to inspire confidence within his own political family.
“The truth remains that Zacch Adedeji neither imposed himself on Oyo politics nor forced anyone to support a particular candidate.
“Stakeholders, leaders, and party faithful made their choices freely based on political realities, relationships, and perceived capacity to unite and move the party forward,” they further noted.
The stakeholders said politics should be about facts, performance, and electability — not emotions, propaganda, or the deliberate spread of misinformation designed to manipulate public opinion.
They also emphasised that in every democratic setting, political contests are determined by a combination of factors that go far beyond personal sentiments or online narratives, adding that leadership, grassroots acceptance, strategic alliances, party structure, credibility, and voter confidence all contribute significantly to electoral outcomes.
“Unfortunately, many political conversations today are driven more by blame games and emotional reactions than by honest reflection and objective analysis,” they noted.
The leaders frowned at what they perceived as the calculated attempt to blame the loss of Chief Bayo Adelabu at the party primaries on individuals, whereas efforts should have been concentrated on forging a united front ahead of the election.
“Ultimately, the desperate attempt to drag Zacch Adedeji into the political failures of others will not change the reality on ground. APC members in Oyo State made their positions,” they asserted.
Part of the statement of the stakeholders read: “At a time when the APC should be preparing strongly for the future, it is unfortunate that some individuals have chosen bitterness, falsehood, and reckless allegations over introspection and reconciliation.
Resorting to attacks against respected public officials will not rebuild lost political goodwill.
“The APC in Oyo belongs to all members, not to any single individual. The path forward lies in unity, humility, grassroots engagement, and collective commitment to the success of the party — not in propaganda designed to settle personal political disappointments.
“History will always separate those who genuinely worked to strengthen the party from those whose actions weakened their own political standing through avoidable arrogance and disconnect from the people.
“Ultimately, the desperate attempt to drag Zacch Adedeji into the political failures of others will not change the reality on ground. APC members in Oyo State made their positions known based on political relationships, performance, accessibility, and trust.
“No amount of propaganda can rewrite that fact. It is, therefore, unfair and dishonest to accuse a respected public servant of misusing public funds without a shred of evidence simply because some politicians failed to read the political mood correctly.
“Democracy allows every qualified individual, including Soji Adedeji, to pursue legitimate political ambition irrespective of family background. Those who suffered political setbacks should look inward instead of manufacturing enemies. In politics, humility, connection with the grassroots, and respect for party members matter more than noise, self-importance, and media hype. The sooner some people realize this reality, the better for the future of the APC in Oyo State.
“Politics should be about facts, performance, and electability — not emotions, propaganda, or the deliberate spread of misinformation designed to manipulate public opinion. In every democratic setting, political contests are determined by a combination of factors that go far beyond personal sentiments or online narratives.
“Leadership, grassroots acceptance, strategic alliances, party structure, credibility, and voter confidence all contribute significantly to electoral outcomes. Unfortunately, many political conversations today are driven more by blame games and emotional reactions than by honest reflection and objective analysis.
“It is therefore unfair and intellectually dishonest for some individuals to continue blaming Dr. Zacch Adedeji for Penkele’s inability to secure the APC governorship ticket in Oyo. No single individual possesses the absolute power to determine the outcome of a major party’s primary election. Political primaries are complex processes involving party stakeholders, internal negotiations, political calculations, and most importantly, electability. To reduce such a multifaceted process to the influence of one man is not only misleading but also disrespectful to the democratic structure of the party itself.
“The reality remains that Penkele has had political opportunities in the past, yet the APC still failed to reclaim power from the PDP. This raises an important question: if previous opportunities did not translate into electoral victory, how then can one individual suddenly become the sole reason for every setback within the party?
“Politics requires accountability, and true accountability begins with honest self-assessment, rather than searching for scapegoats whenever outcomes do not favour certain interests.
“It is also important to remember the Ibadan North election held last year, where Chief Wale Olatunji (Murphy), a candidate strongly associated with Penkele’s political camp, lost to the PDP. That election served as a practical reminder that social media popularity and online hype do not automatically translate into real political strength at the grassroots level.
“Elections are won through deep grassroots connections, effective mobilisation, strategic planning, and the trust of the people — not merely through digital noise or emotional propaganda.
“Rather than directing attacks and unsubstantiated allegations toward Dr. Zacch Adedeji, including claims about “sharing dollars,” critics should channel their energy toward rebuilding the APC and developing stronger political strategies capable of delivering victory in future elections.
“Baseless accusations may generate temporary attention, but they do not solve political problems or strengthen party structures. Serious political actors focus on solutions, organization, and long-term planning.
“At this critical moment, what APC truly needs is unity, maturity, discipline, and strategic coordination. Internal bitterness, blackmail, and endless blame games will only weaken the party further and create unnecessary divisions among loyal members and supporters.
“Political progress can only be achieved when stakeholders are willing to put collective interests above personal ambitions and emotional grievances.
Ultimately, politics is about results, credibility, vision, and the ability to connect meaningfully with the people. Noise, propaganda, and emotional manipulation may dominate headlines temporarily, but they cannot replace genuine political strength or sustainable leadership. Politics is about results, not noise.“
