The former power minister says he will not challenge the Oyo APC primary in court for now, but urges the party to address alleged injustice and transparency concerns

Former Minister of Power and All Progressives Congress governorship aspirant in Oyo State, Bayo Adelabu, on Thursday, August 27, 2026, withdrew from pursuing legal action over the party’s governorship primary and called for a comprehensive reconciliation process ahead of the 2027 elections.

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Adelabu announced the decision in Ibadan after consultations with party leaders and representatives of his supporters across Oyo State’s 33 local government areas and 351 wards.

He said his decision was motivated by the need to preserve party unity and prevent further escalation of tensions surrounding the controversial nomination process.

The former minister stressed that stepping back from legal action should not be interpreted as an admission that his grievances lacked merit.

“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,” Adelabu said.

He explained that he had decided, as a loyal APC member, not to pursue an internal appeal or institute legal proceedings at this stage.

“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,” he said.

The decision comes against the backdrop of a dispute among several Oyo APC governorship aspirants over the emergence of Senator Sharafadeen Alli as the party’s candidate for the 2027 governorship election.

Some aspirants and their supporters have alleged that Alli, who represents Oyo South Senatorial District in the National Assembly, was imposed on the party, a claim that has contributed to tensions within the state chapter.

Adelabu said the controversy had been compounded by concerns over the transparency of the primary and the absence of publicly verifiable results.

He pointed to comments reportedly made by the APC national chairman during a recent visit to Oyo State, saying the party leadership had acknowledged shortcomings in the process.

“More importantly, our respected national chairman, during his recent visit to Oyo, openly acknowledged that there were errors, unfairness and injustice associated with aspects of the primary election process,” he said.

Adelabu argued that an acknowledgement or apology should be followed by concrete steps to address the grievances.

“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 added.

The former minister said many party members had devoted years, personal resources and political capital to building the APC and now believed their contributions had been disregarded.

He said the grievances should not simply be dismissed as the work of individual aspirants seeking to influence party members.

“Their grievances are genuine and must not be dismissed as merely the product of the influence or persuasion of any particular aspirant,” Adelabu said.

He also questioned the manner in which candidates were eventually listed on the Independent National Electoral Commission’s electronic portal.

According to him, names were entered as candidates for the 2027 elections without the transparent publication of the results on which the nominations were purportedly based.

“This development has effectively produced candidates without the transparent publication of the actual results upon which such nominations were supposedly based,” he said.

Adelabu said the concerns extended beyond the governorship primary to senatorial, House of Representatives and state House of Assembly nominations.

He claimed that documentary materials, authenticated collation records and video evidence existed which, in his view, raised serious questions about aspects of the nomination process and its eventual outcomes.

“We also affirmed that substantial documentary materials, authenticated collation records and video evidence exist which, in our considered view, raise serious questions about aspects of the process and the eventual outcomes,” he said.

Despite those concerns, Adelabu said he had chosen reconciliation over further confrontation and urged the APC national leadership to take responsibility for repairing relations among its members.

“The national leadership of our party must therefore appreciate that the responsibility for reconciliation cannot simply be transferred to aspirants,” he said.

The former minister called for an urgent and credible reconciliation process that would cover all categories of nominations and involve affected stakeholders.

He said members who felt betrayed or alienated needed more than political appeals to regain confidence in the party.

“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,” Adelabu said.

He warned that the party’s electoral prospects in 2027 could be affected if the grievances were left unresolved.

“Electoral victory cannot be secured merely by entering names on an electronic portal or announcing candidates,” he said.

“Elections are won through the trust, enthusiasm, commitment and active participation of party members and supporters, particularly at the grassroots.”

Adelabu’s decision could ease immediate legal pressure on the Oyo APC leadership, but his call for reconciliation leaves the underlying dispute unresolved.

The former minister maintained that his ambition to become governor was driven by a desire to contribute to the development of Oyo State rather than personal political entitlement.

“My aspiration to serve as Governor of Oyo State has never been, and will never be, a do-or-die project,” he said.

Adelabu, who has held senior positions in both the private and public sectors, said he remained grateful for the opportunities he had received and accepted that political ambitions could be delayed by circumstances beyond an individual’s control.

“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 said.

His latest position leaves the APC with the task of addressing the broader grievances surrounding its Oyo nominations while preparing for a demanding 2027 election campaign.

Also read: Adelabu Promises Improved Electricity Supply Soon

Whether the proposed reconciliation can restore confidence among dissatisfied members may prove crucial to the party’s ability to mobilise its grassroots structure and present a united front at the polls.