The All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate in Oyo State for the 2027 election, Senator Sharafadeen Alli, has said efforts to reconcile aggrieved members of the party are already yielding results, expressing confidence that the APC will approach the next general election as a united political force.
Alli, who represents Oyo South Senatorial District in the National Assembly, made the remarks during a Nigerian Union Of Journalists programme tagged “A Day with BSA,” where he also unveiled policy priorities that would shape his administration’s first 100 days in office if elected governor.
The APC standard-bearer said restoring unity within the party had become one of his immediate priorities following his emergence as the party’s governorship candidate, adding that consultations with stakeholders across the state were ongoing.
According to him, he has held meetings with aspirants, members of the G-6 bloc and other influential party leaders, while President Bola Tinubu has also intervened by engaging former APC governorship candidate, Teslim Folarin, to facilitate reconciliation among aggrieved members.
“We have been making conscious efforts to unite the APC. I have met with candidates and spoken with members of the G-6. President Bola Tinubu has also engaged Senator Teslim Folarin and tasked him with reconciling all aggrieved members. We are already resolving the crisis, and I believe the party will emerge stronger and more united,” Alli said.
The senator said his emergence as the APC governorship candidate marked the beginning of a renewed drive to rebuild the party ahead of the 2027 governorship election, urging members to close ranks in the interest of victory.
On education, Alli promised to restore quality public education by reducing class sizes to a maximum of 30 pupils in public primary and secondary schools.
He also pledged to rehabilitate school infrastructure and provide free, functional and quality education from primary to secondary school level.
“We will return to 30 pupils per classroom because quality education begins with a conducive learning environment. We will upgrade facilities in all public primary and secondary schools and ensure that every child enjoys free, functional and quality education from primary to secondary level,” he said.
The APC candidate further pledged to reposition technical and vocational education by establishing and strengthening technical colleges across the state while integrating practical skills training into tertiary institutions.
According to him, the initiative would equip young people with employable skills, promote entrepreneurship and reduce unemployment.
“We must produce graduates with practical skills. Technical education will receive priority because it is critical to industrial growth and youth employment,” he added.
Alli also said his administration would end the reliance on consultancy services in public schools, insisting that teachers and educational institutions should be adequately equipped and empowered to discharge their responsibilities effectively.
Speaking on grassroots governance, he said local government councils must be allowed to function efficiently to deepen development and improve service delivery across the state.
“Our local governments must function effectively because development starts from the grassroots. Once local governments work efficiently, governance becomes more impactful,” he said.
On security, the APC governorship candidate advocated strengthening neighbourhood watch structures and proposed the biometric registration of all residents in Oyo State.
He said every resident should be captured in a comprehensive database, including fingerprint records, to improve intelligence gathering and assist security agencies in combating crime.
“We need a comprehensive database of everyone living in Oyo State. Every resident should be registered with biometric details, including fingerprints. This will significantly improve intelligence gathering and strengthen our security architecture,” he said.
Alli maintained that education, security, youth empowerment and effective local government administration would form the cornerstone of his administration’s first 100 days in office if elected, expressing confidence that the proposed reforms would reposition Oyo State for sustainable growth and development.
