Adelabu Won’t Sue Over Oyo APC Primary, Says Governorship Ambition Not Do-or-Die
By Aliyu Oyewole
Former Minister of Power and All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship aspirant in Oyo State, Bayo Adelabu, has said he will not challenge the party’s governorship primary in court, declaring that his ambition to govern the state is not a do-or-die affair.
Adelabu made this known in a statement issued in Ibadan on Thursday, saying his decision was taken in the interest of peace, party stability and the future of the APC in Oyo State.
He explained that the decision followed extensive 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 Alli as its candidate for the 2027 Oyo State governorship election, with some aspirants alleging irregularities and imposition in the process.
Adelabu, however, said that as a loyal and committed member of the APC, 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.
According to him, pursuing the matter through legal or other avenues could further deepen 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 stated.
The former minister recalled that the APC national chairman, during his recent visit to Oyo State, acknowledged what he described as “errors, unfairness and injustice” associated with aspects of the primary process.
Adelabu said such 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.
He noted that many APC members had invested years, personal resources, time and political capital in building the party, expressing concern that some of them were dissatisfied with the outcome of the nomination process.
According to him, some party members believe their votes and preferences were disregarded, while candidates were subsequently submitted to the Independent National Electoral Commission without publicly declaring the results on which the nominations were based.
Adelabu said the concerns were not limited to the governorship primary but extended to the 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.
He further claimed that documentary materials, authenticated collation records and video evidence were available to support concerns raised over aspects of the nomination process and its outcomes.
Adelabu consequently urged the national leadership of the APC to take responsibility for the reconciliation process, stressing that rebuilding confidence and restoring unity within the party could not be left solely to the aspirants.
He called for genuine efforts to address the grievances of aggrieved members and strengthen the party ahead of the 2027 elections.
