Former Minister of Power and governorship aspirant of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Oyo State, Bayo Adelabu, has said he will not challenge the party’s governorship primary or pursue legal action over the process, describing his ambition to govern the state as not a do-or-die affair.
Adelabu made the declaration in a statement issued in Ibadan on Thursday, explaining that his decision was taken in the interest of peace, party stability and the progress of the APC ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The former minister said the decision followed consultations with party leaders, loyalists and supporters drawn from the state’s 33 local government areas and 351 wards.
Several APC governorship aspirants in Oyo had expressed dissatisfaction with the party’s primary process and the emergence of Senator Sharafadeen Alli, who represents Oyo South Senatorial District in the National Assembly, as the party’s candidate for the 2027 governorship election.
The aggrieved aspirants had alleged that Alli was imposed as the party’s candidate.
Adelabu, however, said that as a loyal and committed APC member, he had decided not to pursue an internal appeal or institute legal proceedings against the 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,” he said.
He explained that escalating the matter through legal and internal avenues could deepen divisions within the party and undermine its chances in the 2027 elections.
Adelabu also referred to comments made by the APC National Chairman during his recent visit to Oyo State, saying the party leadership had acknowledged errors, unfairness and injustice associated with aspects of the primary process.
“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.
The former minister expressed concern over the growing dissatisfaction among party members who, according to him, had invested years, personal resources, time, energy and political capital in building the APC.
He said many members now felt that their sacrifices, votes and preferences had been disregarded, particularly following the emergence of candidates without transparent publication of the results of the primaries.
“Their grievances are genuine and must not be dismissed as merely the product of the influence or persuasion of any particular aspirant,” Adelabu stated.
He alleged that names of selected individuals were subsequently uploaded on the Independent National Electoral Commission’s electronic portal as APC candidates for the 2027 elections without publicly declaring the results upon which the nominations were supposedly based.
According to him, the concerns extended beyond the governorship primary to senatorial, House of Representatives and State House of Assembly nominations.
Adelabu said the absence of publicly declared and verifiable results had raised questions about the transparency, credibility and integrity of the nomination process.
He further claimed that documentary materials, authenticated collation records and video evidence existed which, in his view, raised serious questions about aspects of the primary process and its eventual outcomes.
The former minister consequently called on the national leadership of the APC to take responsibility for resolving the crisis rather than leaving reconciliation solely to the aspirants involved.
“The APC has important work to do to restore confidence, rebuild trust and return cohesion and unity to the party in the state,” he said.
READ ALSO: APC Urges Makinde To Tackle Decay In Oyo’s Health, Education Sectors
Adelabu urged the party’s national leadership to urgently commence what he described as a comprehensive, sincere and credible reconciliation process covering all categories of nominations and involving all affected stakeholders.
He said members who felt betrayed, wounded or alienated should be deliberately engaged and reassured through concrete actions demonstrating that their loyalty, sacrifices and contributions remained valued.
According to Adelabu, the party must not underestimate the potential consequences of the ongoing disagreements, warning that electoral victory could not be achieved simply by uploading candidates’ names to an electronic platform or announcing them.
“Elections are won through the trust, enthusiasm, commitment and active participation of party members and supporters, particularly at the grassroots,” he said.
Adelabu reiterated that his ambition to become governor of Oyo State had never been driven by desperation.
“My aspiration to serve as Governor of Oyo State has never been, and will never be, a do-or-die project,” he said.
He noted that he had been privileged to serve at senior levels in both the private and public sectors and expressed gratitude for the opportunities he had received.
Adelabu maintained that his desire to govern Oyo State was motivated by his determination to contribute to the state’s development, prosperity and progress.
He, however, said he remained conscious that political ambitions were ultimately subject to divine will and timing.
“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,” he added.