Bayo Adelabu, who once held the powerful position of Minister of Power, has decided not to pursue a legal battle against his own party, the All Progressives Congress (APC), regarding the recent governorship primary in Oyo State. This move, announced on Thursday, comes as a surprise to many, especially since Adelabu had been vocal about perceived irregularities in the nomination process. He's urging the party leadership to step in and sort things out before the 2027 elections.
Adelabu made it clear in a statement released from Ibadan that his decision wasn't because he lacked evidence or confidence in his case. Instead, he said he's doing it for the good of the party and its progress leading up to the 2027 polls. This decision followed a closed-door meeting with some key party leaders and representatives from his loyal supporters across all 33 local government areas and 351 wards in Oyo State. Tensions have been high within the Oyo APC. Some aspirants, including Adelabu, have been openly disagreeing with the state and national executive members over the selection of Sharafadeen Alli as the party's flagbearer for the governorship in 2027.
The main complaint? They felt Alli, who currently represents Oyo South Senatorial District, was simply imposed on them.
In his statement, Adelabu stressed his loyalty and commitment to the APC. He explained that he won't be filing an internal appeal or heading to court over the primary process right now. "This decision isn't 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 stated. He believes that escalating the matter through legal channels could further divide the party, and that's the last thing they need right now.
What really seems to have tipped the scale for Adelabu is a recent comment from the national chairman of the APC. During a visit to Oyo, the chairman apparently admitted that there were indeed "errors, unfairness and injustice" in how the primary election was handled. Adelabu pointed out that while an admission is important, it can't replace actual corrective actions, especially when there's still a chance to fix things.
He voiced concern for the many loyal party members who have poured years of their lives, significant personal resources, time, energy, and political capital into building the APC in Oyo State. According to Adelabu, many of these members feel their sacrifices, votes, and preferences were ignored. They are worried that candidates who weren't necessarily the popular choice among party members have emerged, all without a transparent declaration of the primary results. "Their grievances are genuine and must not be dismissed as merely the product of the influence or persuasion of any particular aspirant," he argued.
Adelabu detailed the process that has caused so much friction. He explained that many party faithful are convinced their votes and sacrifices were disregarded. The situation, as he described it, is that names of selected individuals were later entered into the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) electronic portal as the party's candidates for the 2027 general elections. This has led to candidates being produced without the actual results of the primaries being publicly declared. These concerns aren't just about the governorship ticket; they span nominations for senatorial, House of Representatives, and state House of Assembly positions as well.
He and other aggrieved members highlighted that the absence of publicly declared and verifiable results has understandably created serious questions about the transparency, credibility, and integrity of the entire nomination process. Substantial documentary materials, authenticated collation records, and even video evidence exist. These, he believes, raise serious questions about how certain aspects of the process unfolded and the final outcomes.
With this concession, Adelabu is now calling on the national leadership of the APC to take the lead in healing these wounds. He wants them to restore confidence, rebuild trust, and bring back the much-needed cohesion and unity to the party in Oyo State. "The national leadership of our party must therefore appreciate that the responsibility for reconciliation cannot simply be transferred to aspirants," he stated, placing the onus squarely on the party's hierarchy to drive the healing process. The APC, he insists, has significant work to do to mend fences within the state chapter.
To that end, Adelabu urged the party's national leadership to promptly initiate a reconciliation process that is comprehensive, sincere, and credible. This process must genuinely involve all stakeholders who have been affected by the nomination issues. Members who feel wronged, betrayed, or sidelined need to be deliberately engaged. This engagement shouldn't just be through mere words but through concrete actions that prove their loyalty, sacrifices, and contributions are still valued and respected by the party they've worked so hard for.