Why Tinubu, Buhari’s Recent Parley Is A Good Omen For Oyo APC | Faisodeen Adeola

In a strategic move that has sent positive signals across the APC Oyo State, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, on Friday night, October 16, 2026, met with the three-term Senator representing Oyo North Senatorial District, Distinguished Senator AbdulFatai Omotayo Buhari, and urged him to return home to mobilize for victory in 2027.

The closed-door meeting, which was also attended by the Executive Chairman of the Nigeria Revenue Service (NRS), is being described by political observers as timely, strategic and long overdue.

According to reliable reports, President Tinubu specifically charged Senator Buhari to go back to Oyo State and lead the charge for the APC in Oyo North and across the state. The President asked him to work for his own re-election bid, for Senator Sharafadeen Alli as the APC governorship candidate in Oyo State, and for all other APC candidates in the 2027 general elections.

For those who know Oyo State politics, Senator AbdulFatai Buhari needs no introduction. He is not a noise-maker. He is a grassroots mobilizer and arguably the most performing Senator in the entire South-West and one of the best in Nigeria today.

His records are verifiable: First Senator in Oyo history to win three consecutive terms; facilitated not less than 56 ICT/CBT Centers across the 13 LGAs of Oyo North; over 200 federal job placements, communities electrified, countless scholarship opportunities, thousands of empowerment items – vehicles, motorcycles, generators, grinding machines; medical outreaches that touched countless people most of who are downtrodden. He is the only Senator in Oyo history whose Bill for establishment of a federal institution was assented to by the President birthing the Federal University of Agriculture and Technology, Okeho.

Yet, despite all these, BAF felt cheated in the race for the gubernatorial ticket. His loyalty has been taken for granted. His capacity has been underutilized. And like other critical stakeholders who felt sidelined after giving their all for the party, his body language had been that of a man left in the lurch.

That is why President Tinubu’s move to summon him was a masterstroke. Mr. President has demonstrated once again that he is a true father and political genius who knows where the votes are. Oyo North Senatorial District, comprising Ogbomoso and the 10 LGAs of Oke-Ogun, has remained the most consistent and loyal stronghold of the progressives since 1999 – from AD to AC, ACN to APC. While Ibadan votes were always split between PDP and Accord, Oyo North stood firm.

You cannot win Oyo State without winning Oyo North massively. And you cannot win Oyo North without Senator Fatai Buhari. That is a political fact.

By calling him personally, Mr. President is reassuring him of his relevance, restoring his honour and sending a clear message to other aggrieved stakeholders across Oyo State that they are still valued.

Let us be blunt: APC in Oyo State has suffered enough from internal division. The lessons of 2019 and 2023 are still fresh. Imposition, neglect of party foot-soldiers, sidelining of performing leaders and the likes are the cancers that cost us victory. A divided house can never stand.

If APC must reclaim Oyo State in 2027, it must start now with genuine reconciliation and inclusiveness.

All performing stakeholders like Senator Buhari, Senator Teslim Folarin, Chief Bayo Adelabu, Barr. Akeem Agbaje and others should be reassured that there is space for everyone.

In addition, give Oke-Ogun its due. For decades, Oke-Ogun has asked for recognition. Giving them a sense of belonging is not a favour, it is political justice.

Also, performance should be allowed to speak in all ramifications. Oyo people are tired of propaganda. They want to see leaders who have touched lives, not those who only appear during elections.

President Tinubu has shown the way. He did not send an emissary; he personally hosted Senator Buhari. That is leadership.

We call on the National Working Committee, the State Executive, and all leaders of the APC in Oyo State to emulate Mr. President. Reach out. Reconcile genuinely. Unite purposefully.

Senator AbdulFatai Buhari should be fully integrated into the Presidential Campaign Council and the State Campaign structure for 2027. Senator Sharafadeen Alli needs Buhari’s political machine in Oyo North to win. President Tinubu needs Buhari’s influence in Oke-Ogun to deliver the 35% vote surge being targeted in Oyo.

The message is clear: When you have a general who has never lost a battle in his constituency, you don’t keep him in the barracks, you send him to the war front.

This move by President Tinubu is the beginning of the victory of APC in Oyo State in 2027. May the party leadership have the wisdom to sustain it.