By Our Correspondent

National News – The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Oyo State has announced plans to conduct a direct governorship primary to select its aspirants ahead of the 2027 general elections.

The decision was disclosed by the state party chairman, Moses Adeyemo, on Monday, May 11, 2026, during a meeting with members of the Screening and Appeal Committees at the Oke-Ado party secretariat in Ibadan.

He stated that the exercise would ensure a free, fair, and credible process, giving all eligible aspirants equal opportunity under the party’s constitution and internal democracy guidelines.

Adeyemo explained that the party initially explored consensus arrangements but may proceed with direct primaries where more than one aspirant emerges for the governorship ticket.

He said the National Secretariat in Abuja would deploy officials to supervise the exercise, while the state chapter would provide logistical support.

According to him, every registered party member would participate at ward level during the exercise, either by affirmation in consensus situations or by voting in direct primaries.

The move is aimed at strengthening internal democracy and reducing tensions among aspirants jostling for tickets across Oyo State.

The decision comes amid rising political maneuvering within the APC ahead of the 2027 polls in Nigeria.

The Screening Committee, led by former Ondo State House of Assembly Speaker Taofiq AbdusSalam, assured that only qualified aspirants would be cleared.

The Appeal Committee, chaired by Jibola Oduwole, will handle disputes arising from screening outcomes.

Other committee members include Kamal Sanusi, Smart Oluwole, Tunde Kolade, and Jelil Jimoh.

The APC leadership emphasized transparency, fairness, and compliance with party rules, noting that the process is crucial for selecting a strong candidate capable of winning the governorship election.

The development reflects growing political activity across Nigeria as parties prepare for 2027 elections.