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IBADAN – In a move signaling party unity ahead of the All Progressives Congress, APC, gubernatorial primary, prominent aspirant Dr. Adewale Kolapo Kareem, AKK, has withdrawn from the race and declared support for Senator Sharafadeen Abiodun Alli, PhD, as the party’s consensus candidate for Oyo State in 2027.
The announcement followed an extensive consultative meeting held on Wednesday, May 20, 2026, with AKK’s core campaign team, ward and local government coordinators, and steering executives who have driven his aspiration since its inception. Describing the decision as “a supreme sacrifice for progress,” Dr. Kareem said the move was guided by the party’s directive and the broader interest of Oyo State.
Addressing his team, Dr. Kolapo Kareem revealed that the APC leadership at both national and state levels had reached a consensus framework endorsing Senator Alli for the gubernatorial ticket. While acknowledging that the internal deliberations were frank and exhaustive, he reaffirmed his long-standing belief that the party must remain supreme over individual ambitions.
“Our discussions were extensive, reflective, and anchored on the deep-seated love we all share for our dear state,” he said. “We have always maintained that the party remains supreme, and this is an organisational ideology I have not only lived by but have consistently preached throughout my years in public life, particularly since joining the APC.”
He emphasized that the discipline of prioritizing collective destiny over personal aspiration is what sustains the APC as a progressive political family.
Despite endorsing the consensus, Dr. Kolapo Kareem urged party leaders to ensure that all interests are genuinely integrated into the decision-making process from the outset. He noted that while consensus is a vital tool for unity, inclusivity remains the foundation for lasting institutional harmony.
“Democratic pursuits, by their very nature, naturally attract divergent interests, and these interests must always be deeply, inclusively, and delicately channeled,” he stated. “Ensuring that every voice feels genuinely valued and integrated is the surest way to safeguard our institutional harmony and guarantee an impenetrable front moving forward.”
Following consultations with traditional and political stakeholders, Dr. Kolapo Kareem said he had reached a pragmatic and statesmanlike conclusion to abide by the party’s decision and rally support for Senator Sharafadeen Alli ahead of Thursday’s primary.
Having engaged closely with Senator Alli in recent days, he said both leaders share a common vision for moving Oyo State forward.
“I am explicitly instructing and rallying every single one of my supporters across the nooks and crannies of Oyo State to cast their votes overwhelmingly and absolutely for Senator Sharafadeen Abiodun Alli, PhD, at the primary tomorrow,” he declared. “We are merging our intellectual and grassroots capital with his, and we wish the Distinguished Senator nothing but the absolute best.”
He added that the AKK political structure remains intact and fully mobilized, with its human resources, structural strength, and campaign assets now deployed to ensure Senator Alli’s victory at the primary and his election as governor in 2027.
Dr. Kolapo Kareem expressed profound gratitude to his supporters and team for their sacrifices and trust, noting that the journey toward “A Realistic Tomorrow” for Oyo State had only taken a wiser, more strategic turn.
“Our journey has not ended; it has simply taken a wiser, more strategic path for the redemption of our state,” he said. “May God bless our collective endeavour.”
The endorsement is expected to strengthen cohesion within the Oyo APC ahead of the primary, positioning the party to present a united front in the 2027 governorship election.
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