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Former Minister of Power, Adebayo Adelabu, has officially pulled out of the 2027 Oyo State governorship race under the All Progressives Congress (APC).
In a personally signed press release issued on Thursday, tagged ‘APC Nomination Process in Oyo State: Closing the Contest, Not Conceding the Injustice’, the former minister clarified that stepping aside does not mean he accepts the flawed process that marred the party’s primary elections.
Adelabu explained that his withdrawal came after a period of quiet reflection and strategic review of political happenings within the party.
Following a brief vacation abroad to recharge after months of intense political engagements, he returned to engage key party leaders and loyalists across the state.
He disclosed that he held a strategic meeting on Wednesday with grassroots leaders and key supporters.
According to him, the gathering evaluated serious complaints coming from party members, aspirants, and stakeholders, spanning the governorship primary down to the Senate, House of Representatives, and State 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,” Adelabu said.
“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.
“However, I informed the meeting that, after extensive consultations and careful consideration, I have decided, as a loyal and committed member of the All Progressives Congress, not to pursue an appeal within the party or institute legal proceedings over the process at this time,” he added.
Adelabu emphasized that opting out of a legal challenge is not due to weakness, lack of proof, or shaky 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.
“Rather, I have chosen, in the interest of peace, party stability and the larger future of the APC in Oyo State, not to further escalate the matter through avenues that may deepen existing divisions and undermine the cohesion of our great party,” he noted.
He pointed out that APC National Chairman, Nentawe Yilwatda, publicly admitted during a recent visit to Oyo State that the primary election suffered from procedural errors, unfairness, and flaws.
However, Adelabu stressed that verbal admissions or apologies are insufficient if the party fails to rectify grievances where remedies are still possible.
He urged the national executive of the APC to urgently kick-start a genuine reconciliation drive that touches every tier of nomination and engages all aggrieved parties.
“We therefore urge the National Leadership of the APC to urgently initiate a comprehensive, sincere and credible reconciliation process that covers all categories of nominations and genuinely engages all affected stakeholders,” he urged.
“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,” he added.
Reaffirming that his political ambition has never been a desperate pursuit, Adelabu expressed firm belief that divine timing governs his quest to lead Oyo State.
The ex-minister maintained that he remains a steadfast APC member with zero intentions of defecting to another political platform.
He stressed, however, that authentic party allegiance requires members to speak out courageously and constructively whenever things go wrong.
He called on his supporters and party faithful across Oyo State to stay calm, show political maturity, and maintain peace following the primary outcome.
Adelabu previously stepped down from his position as Minister of Power on April 22 to focus on his governorship campaign in Oyo State.
He was among 13 aspirants who contested the APC ticket, which ultimately went to Senator Sharafadeen Alli (Oyo South) as the consensus candidate.
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