Former Minister of Power, Adebayo Adelabu, has withdrawn from the legal and internal contest over the 2027 governorship ticket of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Oyo State, urging the party’s national leadership to reconcile aggrieved members.
His withdrawal comes barely four months after he officially resigned as the Minister of Power to join the Oyo Governorship race.
Adelabu resigned 22 days after President Bola Ahmed Tinubu directed political appointees seeking elective offices in the 2027 general elections to resign on or before March 31, 2026, a directive that led to the resignation of some top government officials.
Adelabu announced his decision in a personally signed statement on Thursday, following consultations with party leaders, supporters and other stakeholders across the state.
He said his withdrawal should not be interpreted as an endorsement of the party’s recent nomination process or an acceptance of what he described as injustice surrounding the governorship primary.
Adelabu Questions Transparency of APC Primary
The former minister said he returned to Oyo State after a brief vacation outside the country and met with party leaders and supporters to review the outcome of the governorship primary and other nomination exercises.
According to him, stakeholders expressed concern over the absence of publicly declared and verifiable results from the exercises.
“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.
He added that documentary materials, authenticated collation records and video evidence available to stakeholders raised questions about some aspects of the process and its outcome.
“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 the concerns, Adelabu said he had decided not to pursue an internal appeal or commence legal action over the process at this time.
“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 said.
‘Decision Not Due to Lack of Evidence’
Adelabu stressed that his decision was not prompted by a lack of evidence or conviction.
“This decision is not because of a lack of evidence, confidence or conviction,” he said.
He also rejected any suggestion that his withdrawal amounted to surrender or that his ambition to govern Oyo State was a do-or-die affair.
“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 chose peace and party unity over further escalation of the dispute.
“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 said.
Adelabu Demands APC Reconciliation
Adelabu called on the national leadership of the APC to urgently address the grievances arising from the nomination process.
He recalled that the party’s National Chairman, Nentawe Yilwatda, acknowledged concerns surrounding the primary during his recent visit to Oyo State.
Adelabu said Yilwatda had acknowledged “errors, unfairness and injustice” in aspects of the exercise, stressing that any acknowledgement or apology should be followed by steps to resolve legitimate grievances.
“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 said.
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He also urged the party to reach out to members who felt betrayed or alienated by the outcome.
“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.
‘I’m Not Leaving APC’
The former minister reiterated that his ambition to become governor had never been a do-or-die affair, saying he remained guided by his belief in divine timing.
He said his withdrawal would not affect his commitment to public service or the APC, adding that he had no intention of leaving the party.
Adelabu further maintained that loyalty to the APC required members to speak honestly and constructively when necessary.
He urged his supporters and other party members across Oyo State to accept the development with restraint and maturity, warning against actions capable of deepening divisions within the party.
His withdrawal comes amid lingering disagreements over the APC’s nomination process in Oyo State, leaving the party with the task of resolving the grievances of affected members ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Rafiyat Sadiq is a political, justice, and human rights reporter with Pinnacle Daily, known for fearless reporting and impactful storytelling. At Pinnacle Daily, she brings clarity and depth to issues shaping governance, democracy, and the protection of citizens’ rights.