Uncertainty has continued to surround the All Progressives Congress ticket for Ibarapa Central/Ibarapa North Federal Constituency ahead of the 2027 general election, following an alleged disagreement among party stakeholders over the choice of a consensus candidate.
Findings by Peoples Conscience indicated that a former caretaker chairman of Ibarapa Central Local Government, Hon. Sarafa Olaoniye, politically known as Bibire, had earlier emerged as the preferred consensus candidate of the APC for the constituency before fresh developments reportedly altered the political calculations within the party.
Multiple party sources told Peoples Conscience that the situation changed on Wednesday, May 13, 2026, during a stakeholders’ meeting convened to endorse Senator Sharafadeen Ali as the APC consensus governorship candidate in Oyo State. Contrary to earlier speculations, it was gathered that Olaoniye was present at the meeting where discussions over the federal constituency ticket resurfaced.
A source privy to the meeting alleged that an aspirant for Oyo South Senatorial District, insisted that only Hon. Ajibola Muraina Saubana possessed the political structure and electoral strength required to secure victory for the APC in Ibarapa Central/Ibarapa North in the 2027 election among all the House of Reps aspirants of the party in the constituency.
The source disclosed that the Senate aspirant reportedly opposed the earlier arrangement favouring Bibire and maintained his position throughout the deliberations. According to the insider, the disagreement among stakeholders later resulted in the preparation of a fresh list of consensus candidates across the state.
It was gathered that the updated list was subsequently forwarded to APC chairmen in the 33 local government areas of Oyo State, a development which allegedly heightened tension among supporters of the two leading aspirants within the constituency.
However, investigations by Peoples Conscience revealed that Bibire still enjoys considerable support from influential figures within the APC at both the state and federal levels. Sources also claimed that Senator Sharafadeen Ali and a prominent traditional ruler in the state are among those backing his aspiration.
Early indications on Saturday suggested that the contest for the APC ticket had narrowed to a straight battle between Bibire and Muraina, with other aspirants said to have faded from the political equation.
Meanwhile, loyalists of both Hon. Sarafa Olaoniye and Hon. Ajibola Muraina were said to have intensified consultations ahead of the rescheduled primaries, as supporters of other aspirants who reportedly feel sidelined in the consensus arrangement are also said to be mobilising against what they described as an imposition. Party insiders disclosed that the various camps have become battle-ready for a possible political showdown that could deepen the crisis within the APC in the constituency.
Efforts to obtain comments from party leaders on the rescheduled primaries slated for Saturday were unsuccessful as of press time.
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