Tinubu Meets Senator Teslim Folarin, Sparks Fresh Speculation Over Oyo APC Governorship Race
By Online Editor
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on Monday held a closed-door meeting with former Senate Leader and the All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate in Oyo State during the 2023 general election, Senator Teslim Folarin, in what has sparked fresh political speculation ahead of the 2027 governorship election.
The meeting comes amid ongoing consultations within the ruling party over its strategy for reclaiming Oyo State from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in 2027.
Notably, Senator Folarin was the only one among the four prominent APC political figures reportedly involved in recent high-level consultations who did not purchase the party’s governorship nomination form. Despite that, he has emerged as the first—and so far the only—aspirant to meet privately with President Tinubu.
The development has fueled questions within political circles over the significance of the meeting and its implications for the APC’s governorship ticket in Oyo State.
Although details of the discussions were not made public, observers are asking whether the President intends to hold similar meetings with the other leading contenders or whether Senator Folarin has been assigned a specific role in the party’s plans ahead of the primary election.
The meeting has also reignited speculation over the direction the APC leadership may be taking as it seeks to strengthen internal cohesion and improve its chances of unseating Governor Seyi Makinde’s successor in the next governorship election.
Neither the Presidency nor Senator Folarin’s camp had issued an official statement on the outcome of the meeting as of the time of filing this report.
Political watchers are expected to closely monitor subsequent developments, particularly whether other governorship aspirants will also be granted audience with President Tinubu in the coming days.
