Former Minister of Power and All Progressives Congress governorship aspirant in Oyo State, Bayo Adelabu, has decided not to pursue legal action over the party’s 2027 governorship primary, instead calling for reconciliation among members ahead of the election.
Adelabu made his position known on Thursday in Ibadan, saying he chose to step back from further legal action because of his concern for the unity and future of the APC in Oyo State.
The former minister said the decision was reached after discussions with party leaders as well as representatives of his supporters across the 33 local government areas and 351 wards in the state.
The Oyo APC has been facing internal disagreements over the choice of Senator Sharafadeen Alli as its candidate for the 2027 governorship election. Some aspirants and their supporters have questioned the process, alleging that Alli was imposed as the party’s candidate.
Adelabu said he would not pursue an internal appeal or begin court proceedings over the primary at this stage. He made it clear that his decision should not be seen as a lack of evidence or confidence in his position.
According to him, continuing the dispute through legal and internal channels could worsen divisions within the party at a time when the APC should be preparing for the 2027 election.
Adelabu also referred to comments made by the APC national chairman during a recent visit to Oyo State, where the party leader reportedly admitted that there were problems and unfair practices in parts of the primary process.
The former minister said recognising problems within the process should be followed by efforts to correct them where possible rather than simply accepting the situation.
He said many APC members had spent years, money, time and political energy building the party and now felt that their contributions and choices had been ignored.
Adelabu said the concerns were not limited to supporters of one aspirant. He noted that members across different groups believed their votes and preferences were not properly reflected in the outcome of the party’s nominations.
He also raised concerns over the failure to publicly release verifiable results from the primary, saying names were later uploaded to the Independent National Electoral Commission’s electronic portal as APC candidates for the 2027 elections.
According to him, questions over the process affect not only the governorship ticket but also nominations for the Senate, House of Representatives and Oyo State House of Assembly.
Adelabu said his team had documentary records, authenticated collation materials and video evidence which they believed could raise questions about parts of the primary and its final outcome.
Despite these concerns, he called on the APC national leadership to take responsibility for resolving the dispute and begin a broad reconciliation process involving all affected aspirants and party stakeholders.
He said members who feel disappointed, betrayed or pushed aside should be engaged directly and given reasons to regain confidence in the party.
The former minister warned that simply submitting names to INEC or announcing candidates would not be enough to guarantee victory in 2027.
He said the support of party members at the grassroots would be necessary for the APC to perform well at the polls, stressing that members must have confidence in the party and feel that their contributions are valued.
Adelabu also said his desire to become governor of Oyo State was based on his wish to contribute more directly to the development and welfare of the people.
He maintained that his governorship ambition was not a matter of life or death and said he remained grateful for the opportunities he had received to serve in both the private and public sectors.
The former minister added that although recent events might have delayed his ambition, he remained hopeful about the future and would continue to leave the outcome to God.
His decision to step back from legal action now places greater responsibility on the APC leadership to address the grievances surrounding the primary and rebuild unity within the party before the 2027 election.