Oyo APC Governorship Aspirant Fatai Buhari Endorses Direct Primary

Fatai Buhari, a governorship aspirant for the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Oyo State and Senator for Oyo North, has publicly declared his readiness to participate in a direct primary election. During a meeting with the state APC executive committee led by Chairman Moses Adeyemo in Ibadan, Buhari emphasized the necessity of a peaceful, free, fair, and credible contest. He argued that any aspirant afraid of competitive primaries lacks the competence to lead the party to victory in general elections. This stance aligns with recent announcements by Chairman Adeyemo, who indicated that while consensus efforts were underway, direct primaries would likely be adopted for key tickets, including the governorship. Buhari, who described himself as a top contender among screened aspirants, also donated funds to the party and pledged infrastructural support. His position contrasts with earlier stakeholder meetings that declared Senator Sharafadeen Alli as the consensus candidate. Other notable aspirants, including Bayo Adelabu, Rauf Olaniyan, and Akeem Agbaje, have similarly rejected the consensus arrangement and called for direct primaries, highlighting internal divisions within the state chapter regarding the selection process.