2027: My ambition to govern Oyo not do-or-die — Adelabu

Former Minister of Power and All Progressives Congress governorship aspirant in Oyo State, Bayo Adelabu, has said his ambition to govern the state is not a do-or-die affair, disclosing that he will not challenge the party’s governorship primary in court.

Adelabu made the position known in a statement issued in Ibadan on Thursday, explaining that his decision was not due to a lack of evidence, confidence or conviction but was taken in the interest of peace, party stability and the future of the APC in Oyo State.

He said the decision followed consultations with party leaders, loyalists and supporters across the state’s 33 Local Government Areas and 351 wards.

The APC has been embroiled in disagreements over the process that produced Senator Sharafadeen Allias its candidate for the 2027 Oyo governorship election, with some aspirants alleging that his emergence was imposed on them.

Adelabu said, as a loyal and committed APC member, he had decided not to pursue an internal appeal or institute legal proceedings over the primary 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,” he said.

He explained that taking the decision was intended to prevent further divisions within the party ahead of the 2027 general elections.

“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 said.

The former minister noted that the APC national chairman, during his recent visit to Oyo State, had acknowledged “errors, unfairness and injustice” associated with aspects of the primary process.

He, however, said the acknowledgement should be followed by corrective measures where possible.

“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.

Adelabu said many APC members had invested years, personal resources, time and political capital in building the party and were now dissatisfied with the outcome of the nomination process.

He said some members believed their votes and preferences had been disregarded, while candidates were subsequently submitted to the Independent National Electoral Commission without publicly declaring the results on which the nominations were based.

According to him, the concerns extend beyond the governorship primary to 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,” he said.

Adelabu also claimed that documentary materials, authenticated collation records and video evidence were available to support concerns about aspects of the process and its outcomes.

He urged the APC national leadership to take responsibility for reconciliation, stressing that the task of rebuilding confidence and unity could not be left solely to the aspirants.