By Adeyinka Adeniran
A support group pushing for the emergence of Dr Adewale Kolapo Kareem (AKK) as the candidate of the All Progressives Congress, in the 2027 elections, AKK Support Group has asked the party to prioritise strategy over sentiment in picking its governorship candidate for Oyo State, saying the party must avoid mistakes that cost it past victories.
In a statement signed on Wednesday by the head, Sunday Ademoroti, the group said Nigeria’s ongoing reforms under President Bola Tinubu would succeed or fail largely at the state level, noting that governors are now the key drivers of delivery and impact.
It described Oyo as being at a defining crossroads where the APC must choose between repeating old political patterns or presenting a candidate capable of uniting the party and delivering results.
The group said that path points to Dr. Kareem, arguing that the election must move beyond popularity and political noise.
It maintained that Oyo does not lack politicians but has lacked coordinated, idea-driven leadership that translates vision into measurable progress.
To win and govern effectively, the group said, the APC needs a candidate who can unite party factions before the election, run strongly against the PDP, and deliver development after victory.
The statement said Kareem stands out because of his acceptability across different blocs within the party, which positions him as a unifier. It added that unity remains essential to winning both primaries and the general election, and that Kareem’s approach reflects strategy over sentiment and substance over spectacle.
On policy, the group pointed to Kareem’s recently unveiled 20-point agenda as evidence of preparedness, saying it goes beyond general promises to address practical governance.
It cited his advocacy for credit scoring systems to unlock access to finance, fully funded and restructured education, and other forward-looking reforms as proof of policy depth. The group argued that in terms of ideas and clarity of direction, he stands ahead of others in the field.
The AKK Support Group also stressed the need for alignment with the federal government, saying states that key into Tinubu’s reforms will be better placed to attract support, implement policies efficiently and achieve faster development.
It said Kareem’s outlook shows readiness to operate within that framework and give Oyo a governance advantage.
It described Kareem’s political profile as relatively clean, without the burden of entrenched conflicts or longstanding rivalries, and said this makes him a candidate around whom genuine consensus can be built.
However, the group warned that while consensus is desirable, it must be fair, credible and widely accepted. If such consensus cannot be achieved with justice and balance, it said the party should not hesitate to adopt direct primaries to allow a legitimate candidate to emerge with broad support.
The group insisted the election cannot be about noise, popularity or sentiment alone, but about capacity, ideas and the ability to deliver. It said the political reality before the APC is straightforward: a divided party risks another defeat, while a united and strategically positioned party stands a strong chance of victory.
“If the APC is serious about reclaiming Oyo state, supporting Tinubu’s reform agenda and delivering governance, it must make the right choice in both process and candidate.
“From our standpoint, Kareem represents a pathway to unity, innovation and performance. We urged that if consensus can be reached around him, it should be embraced, and if not, a fair and transparent primary must be conducted”, the group concluded.
