By Opeyemi Adelakun
Former Minister of Power and governorship aspirant of the All Progressives Congress in Oyo State, Bayo Adelabu, has withdrawn from plans to challenge the party’s 2027 governorship primary, but has called for urgent steps to resolve what he described as lingering grievances over the process.
Adelabu made his position known in a statement issued in Ibadan on Thursday, saying he decided against pursuing an internal appeal or legal action in the interest of peace, party stability and the future of the APC in Oyo State.
The former minister, however, stressed that his decision should not be interpreted as an admission that the primary was credible or that he lacked evidence to challenge its outcome.
“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,” he said.
Adelabu’s decision comes amid disagreements among some APC governorship aspirants and party leaders over the emergence of Senator Sharafadeen Alli as the party’s candidate for the 2027 election.
Some aspirants had alleged that Alli was imposed on the party, while concerns were also raised over the absence of publicly declared results from the primary.
Adelabu said the concerns went beyond his personal ambition, arguing that many party members across the state had invested significant resources, time and political capital in building the APC.
He said some members now felt that their votes and preferences had been disregarded, while candidates were allegedly entered on the Independent National Electoral Commission’s electronic portal without transparent publication of the results on which the nominations were based.
According to him, the controversy affects not only the governorship ticket but also senatorial, House of Representatives and State House of Assembly nominations.
“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,” Adelabu said.
He further disclosed that documentary materials, authenticated collation records and video evidence were available which, in his view, raised questions about aspects of the primary and its eventual outcomes.
The former minister also pointed to comments by the APC national chairman during his recent visit to Oyo State, saying the party leader had acknowledged “errors, unfairness and injustice” associated with parts of the primary process.
Adelabu said such acknowledgement should be followed by concrete action.
“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,” he said.
He urged the APC national leadership to begin a comprehensive reconciliation process involving all affected aspirants and party members, rather than leaving the responsibility for resolving the crisis solely to those who contested the primary.
“Members who feel wounded, betrayed or alienated must be deliberately engaged and reassured—not merely through appeals, but through concrete actions that demonstrate that their loyalty, sacrifices and contributions still matter,” he said.
Adelabu warned that the party could not rely solely on the submission of candidates’ names to secure victory in the 2027 election.
“Electoral victory cannot be secured merely by entering names on an electronic portal or announcing candidates,” he said, stressing that elections are won through the trust, enthusiasm and active participation of party members, particularly at the grassroots.
Despite stepping back from the immediate legal battle, Adelabu maintained that his ambition to govern Oyo State remains intact.
“My aspiration to serve as Governor of Oyo State has never been, and will never be, a do-or-die project,” he said.
He added that his desire to lead the state was motivated by a commitment to its development and prosperity, while leaving the ultimate outcome to God.
“While recent developments may have delayed the realisation of this aspiration, I remain firmly convinced that what may be delayed by human actions cannot be denied by Almighty God. God’s time, indeed, remains the best,” Adelabu said.
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