Former Minister of Power, Adebayo Adelabu, has withdrawn from the legal and internal contest over the 2027 governorship ticket of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Oyo State, but insists his decision does not amount to conceding what he described as an unjust nomination process.
Adelabu, in a personally signed statement on Thursday, said he arrived at the decision after extensive consultations with party leaders, supporters and stakeholders across the state.
He said available documentary evidence, authenticated collation records and video materials had raised serious questions about the transparency and credibility of the APC’s recent governorship and legislative primaries.
According to him, the absence of publicly declared and verifiable results further fuelled concerns over the integrity of the exercises.
Despite the concerns, Adelabu said he would neither pursue an internal appeal nor institute legal action over the process “at this time,” stressing that the decision was not borne out of a lack of evidence, confidence or conviction.
He equally rejected any interpretation of his withdrawal as surrender, saying his ambition to govern Oyo State had never been a “do-or-die affair.”
Rather, Adelabu said he chose to prioritise peace, party unity and the long-term interests of the APC in Oyo State over further escalation of the dispute.
However, he urged the APC national leadership to urgently initiate a comprehensive and credible reconciliation process covering all categories of nominations conducted in the state.
He specifically called for deliberate engagement with members who feel “wounded, betrayed or alienated,” insisting that concrete actions—not mere appeals—were needed to restore confidence in the party.
Adelabu also referenced comments by APC National Chairman, Nentawe Yilwatda, during his recent visit to Oyo State, saying the party chairman had acknowledged “errors, unfairness and injustice” in aspects of the primary process.
While welcoming efforts at reconciliation, Adelabu maintained that acknowledgement alone should not end the matter where legitimate grievances could still be addressed.
The former minister reaffirmed his commitment to the APC and public service, declaring that his withdrawal from the contest would not diminish his political engagement or commitment to the party.
He consequently urged his supporters and APC members across Oyo State to remain calm and mature, warning against actions capable of further widening divisions within the party ahead of the 2027 elections.
His decision effectively closes Adelabu’s immediate challenge to the disputed nomination process, while placing renewed pressure on the APC national leadership to reconcile aggrieved members and restore unity in its Oyo State chapter.
