Former Minister of Power and All Progressives Congress governorship aspirant in Oyo State, Bayo Adelabu, has opted against challenging the outcome of the party’s governorship primary in court.
Instead, Adelabu called on the APC leadership to begin a broad reconciliation process aimed at resolving the grievances that have emerged from the party’s nomination exercises ahead of the 2027 general elections.
In a statement issued in Ibadan on Thursday, the former minister explained that his decision to step away from legal action was motivated by his desire to protect the unity and future of the party.
He stressed that his position should not be interpreted as a lack of confidence in his case or an admission that the primary was conducted fairly.
Adelabu said he reached the decision after consultations with APC leaders, as well as representatives of his supporters from the 33 local government areas and 351 wards across Oyo State.
The development comes amid growing disagreement within the Oyo APC over the emergence of Senator Sharafadeen Alli as the party’s candidate for the 2027 governorship election.
Some of the aspirants had accused the party’s state and national leadership of imposing Alli, who represents Oyo South Senatorial District in the National Assembly, as the preferred candidate.
Adelabu said that, despite the concerns surrounding the primary, he had chosen, for now, not to file an appeal within the party or commence court proceedings.
“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.
“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.
“More importantly, our respected national chairman, during his recent visit to Oyo, openly acknowledged that there were errors, unfairness and injustice associated with aspects of the primary election process.
“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.”
The former minister said the controversy had affected many party members who had devoted considerable time, money and political energy to building the APC in the state.
According to him, a section of the membership now believes that their efforts and choices were ignored, particularly following the emergence of candidates without the open declaration of the results of the various primaries.
“Their grievances are genuine and must not be dismissed as merely the product of the influence or persuasion of any particular aspirant.
“Indeed, many party members are deeply convinced that their own votes, sacrifices and preferences were disregarded, and some may not readily accept appeals from the aspirants they supported.
“Rather, names of selected individuals were subsequently entered on the INEC electronic portal as the party’s candidates for the 2027 general elections.
“This development has effectively produced candidates without the transparent publication of the actual results upon which such nominations were supposedly based.
“The concerns arising from this process cut across the governorship, 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.
“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.”
Adelabu therefore appealed to the national leadership of the APC to take deliberate steps to address the divisions within the Oyo chapter and rebuild confidence among aggrieved members.
He maintained that resolving the crisis should not be left entirely to the aspirants involved, arguing that the party leadership must take responsibility for bringing the different sides together.
“The national leadership of our party must therefore appreciate that the responsibility for reconciliation cannot simply be transferred to aspirants.
“The APC has important work to do to restore confidence, rebuild trust and return cohesion and unity to the party in the state,” he said.
He further called for an urgent reconciliation exercise that would involve all affected stakeholders and address complaints arising from the different nomination contests.
“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.
“The implications of the present situation must not be underestimated. Electoral victory cannot be secured merely by entering names on an electronic portal or announcing candidates.
“Elections are won through the trust, enthusiasm, commitment and active participation of party members and supporters, particularly at the grassroots,” he added.
Adelabu also clarified that his decision to step back from legal action did not mean he had abandoned his ambition of governing Oyo State.
He said his interest in the governorship was rooted in his desire to play a greater role in the development of the state and improve the welfare of its residents.
“My aspiration to serve as Governor of Oyo State has never been, and will never be, a do-or-die project. By the grace of Almighty God, I have been privileged to serve at the highest levels of both the private and public sectors, and for these opportunities, I remain profoundly grateful.
“However, as human beings, we may propose, but Almighty God ultimately disposes according to His divine will and perfect timing.
“While recent developments may have delayed the realisation of this aspiration, I remain firmly convinced that what may be delayed by human actions cannot be denied by Almighty God. God’s time, indeed, remains the best,” the former minister stressed.
