Oyo 2027: Adelabu Prioritizes APC Unity, Foregoes Legal Challenge Over Primary

Bayo Adelabu, a former Minister of Power and an All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship aspirant in Oyo State, announced on Thursday that his ambition to govern the state is not a 'do-or-die' affair. He stated that he would not pursue legal action regarding the APC governorship primary in the state.

Speaking from Ibadan, the state capital, Adelabu clarified that his decision was not due to a lack of evidence, confidence, or conviction. Instead, he made this choice in the interest of the party's progress within the state, looking ahead to the 2027 general elections. This resolution, he explained, followed discussions with key party leaders and representatives of his loyalists and supporters from all 33 Local Government Areas and 351 wards across Oyo State.

It has been widely reported by The PUNCH that several Oyo APC governorship aspirants have been at odds with both the state and national leadership of the party. Their contention stems from the nomination of Senator Sharafadeen Alli, who currently represents the Oyo South Senatorial District in the National Assembly, as the party’s governorship candidate for the 2027 election, alleging that he was imposed.

Adelabu, a committed and loyal member of the APC, further reiterated in his statement that he has opted not to file an internal party appeal or initiate legal proceedings concerning the primary process at this time.

“This decision is not because of a lack of evidence, confidence or conviction. Neither should it be interpreted as an act of surrender or an indication that my aspiration to serve as Governor of Oyo State is a do-or-die affair,” the former minister stated.

He continued, “Rather, I have chosen, in the interest of peace, party stability and the larger future of the APC in the state, not to further escalate the matter through avenues that may deepen existing divisions and undermine the cohesion of our great party.”

Adelabu also highlighted that the National Chairman of the party, during a recent visit to Oyo State, had openly acknowledged issues of “errors, unfairness and injustice associated with aspects of the primary election process.” He added, “We believe that an acknowledgement or apology, though important, cannot and should not substitute for the necessary correction where the opportunity to address the grievances still exists.”

Expressing profound concern, Adelabu noted that many dedicated members have invested significant years, personal resources, time, energy, and political capital into building the APC. These members, he observed, now feel that their sacrifices, votes, and preferences have been overlooked, with candidates emerging without a transparent declaration of primary results, failing to reflect the popular choices of party members.

He stressed that these grievances are genuine and should not be dismissed as mere products of influence from any particular aspirant. Many party members are deeply convinced their contributions were disregarded, and some may not easily accept appeals from the aspirants they initially supported. Instead, selected names were subsequently uploaded to the INEC electronic portal as the party’s candidates for the 2027 general elections.

This development, he explained, has effectively produced candidates without the public release of verifiable results upon which such nominations were purportedly based. The concerns arising from this process, he added, span across nominations for governorship, senatorial, House of Representatives, and State House of Assembly positions.

Adelabu affirmed, “We agreed that the absence of publicly declared and verifiable results has understandably generated serious concerns about the transparency, credibility and integrity of the nomination process.” He also confirmed that substantial documentary materials, authenticated collation records, and video evidence exist, which, in their view, raise serious questions about aspects of the process and the final outcomes.

Therefore, he emphasized that the national leadership of the APC must recognize that the responsibility for reconciliation cannot simply be transferred to aspirants. The APC, he asserted, has crucial work to do to restore confidence, rebuild trust, and bring back cohesion and unity to the party in Oyo State.

The former minister thus urged the national leadership of the APC to promptly initiate a comprehensive, sincere, and credible reconciliation process that encompasses all categories of nominations and genuinely engages all affected stakeholders. He stressed that members who feel wounded, betrayed, or alienated must be deliberately engaged and reassured, not just through appeals, but through concrete actions demonstrating that their loyalty, sacrifices, and contributions are still valued.

He cautioned against underestimating the implications of the current situation, stating that electoral victory cannot be secured merely by entering names on an electronic portal or announcing candidates. Elections, he concluded, are won through the trust, enthusiasm, commitment, and active participation of party members and supporters, particularly at the grassroots.