President Bola Tinubu has held a strategic meeting with former Senate Leader and ex-governorship candidate, Teslim Folarin, in what political observers see as a major effort to strengthen unity within the All Progressives Congress ahead of the 2027 governorship election in Oyo State.

The meeting, which took place at the Presidential Villa in Abuja, comes amid ongoing consultations by the ruling party aimed at consolidating support for Senator Sharafadeen Alli, who recently emerged as the APC’s governorship candidate in the state.

Reports indicate that the discussions formed part of broader efforts to reconcile party leaders and address disagreements that surfaced during the selection process.

Folarin, who represented Oyo Central Senatorial District in the Senate and carried the APC flag during the 2023 governorship election, has remained one of the party’s most influential figures in Oyo politics. His support is widely regarded as critical to the party’s chances of reclaiming power from the Peoples Democratic Party, which has governed the state since 2019.

The latest meeting with President Tinubu follows months of intense political consultations within the Oyo chapter of the APC. Senator Alli’s emergence as the party’s candidate came after a highly competitive contest that attracted several notable politicians, including former Minister of Power Adebayo Adelabu, former Deputy Governor Rauf Olaniyan, Senator Abdulfatai Buhari, businessman Akeem Agbaje and Oyedele Alao.

Alli was eventually presented as the party’s standard-bearer alongside his running mate, Adesoji Adedeji, during a ceremony held in Ibadan earlier this month. Party leaders described his selection as the outcome of extensive consultations among stakeholders seeking to position the APC for victory in the next governorship election.

However, the process that produced the candidate generated controversy within the party. Some aspirants and their supporters questioned aspects of the selection process, while a group of aggrieved stakeholders reportedly demanded further discussions and reconciliation.

Former minister Adebayo Adelabu had also urged party members to remain calm while awaiting official pronouncements from the party leadership regarding the outcome of the exercise.

Sources familiar with Tuesday’s meeting said President Tinubu is determined to bridge divisions within the Oyo APC and build a united front before campaigning intensifies. According to one source close to Folarin, the President’s intervention is intended to bring together major blocs within the party and ensure that influential politicians work toward a common objective in 2027.

An official described the meeting as an important step in the reconciliation process, noting that Folarin’s political structure and experience as the party’s previous governorship candidate make him a key player in the APC’s electoral calculations.

The source further claimed that assurances were given regarding the inclusion of Folarin’s loyalists in future political arrangements at both state and federal levels.

Although neither the Presidency nor Folarin released a formal statement detailing the discussions, indications suggest that the former senator may soon meet with his supporters to brief them on the outcome of the engagement.

The APC’s determination to resolve internal disagreements reflects the high stakes surrounding the Oyo governorship contest. Since losing power in the state in 2019, the party has struggled to overcome divisions among its various factions. The defeat of Folarin in the 2023 election further underscored the challenges facing the opposition as Governor Seyi Makinde and the Peoples Democratic Party maintained control of the state government.

Political analysts believe that Tinubu’s direct involvement demonstrates the importance the ruling party attaches to Oyo State ahead of the next electoral cycle. The President has recently intensified consultations with party leaders across the country as the APC seeks to consolidate its political influence and maintain momentum ahead of future elections.

For now, attention remains fixed on how Folarin and other aggrieved stakeholders will respond to the latest reconciliation efforts. Their decisions in the coming months could shape the political landscape in Oyo State and influence the APC’s chances of returning to power after years in opposition.