Adebayo Adelabu has ruled out court action over the Oyo APC governorship primary, saying his ambition is not do-or-die and urging the party to pursue reconciliation.
Former Minister of Power and All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship aspirant in Oyo State, Adebayo Adelabu, has said he will not approach the court to challenge the outcome of the party’s governorship primary ahead of the 2027 election.
Adelabu said his decision was motivated by the need to protect the unity of the APC and prevent the disagreements surrounding the primary from creating deeper divisions within the party.
The former minister disclosed this in a statement issued in Ibadan on Thursday after consultations with party leaders, supporters and loyalists across the state.
According to him, discussions were held with stakeholders across Oyo State’s 33 Local Government Areas and 351 wards before he reached the decision to discontinue any immediate move to challenge the primary through legal means.
The decision comes against the backdrop of controversy within the Oyo APC over the process that produced Senator Sharafadeen Alli as the party’s candidate for the 2027 governorship election.
Questions have been raised by some aspirants and party members over the conduct and outcome of the nomination exercise, with allegations that the process did not adequately reflect the preferences of all those who participated.
Adelabu, however, said he had chosen to place the collective interest of the party above his personal political ambition.
He explained that, as a loyal APC member, he would not pursue an internal appeal or institute legal proceedings against the primary at this stage.
The former minister stressed that his decision should not be misconstrued as an admission that he lacked the evidence or confidence to contest the outcome.
“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,” Adelabu said.
He added that his decision was intended to prevent the dispute from becoming another source of division within the party as political activities intensify ahead of the 2027 general elections.
“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,” he said.
Adelabu raises questions over nomination process
Although Adelabu has ruled out immediate legal action, he maintained that several issues surrounding the APC primary still require attention.
He referred to the recent visit of the party’s national chairman to Oyo State, during which, according to Adelabu, the party leader acknowledged the existence of “errors, unfairness and injustice” in aspects of the governorship primary.
Adelabu said such an acknowledgement was significant but should be followed by concrete steps to resolve genuine complaints wherever possible.
“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,” he stated.
The former minister argued that the controversy should not be viewed solely as a disagreement involving individual aspirants.
He said many members had contributed significantly to the growth of the APC over the years, investing their money, time, energy and political influence in strengthening the party at the grassroots.
According to him, some of those members are now dissatisfied because they believe their efforts and preferences were not adequately reflected in the outcome of the nomination exercises.
One of the major concerns he highlighted was the alleged absence of publicly declared and verifiable results from some aspects of the nomination process.
Adelabu claimed that candidates were subsequently forwarded to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) even though the results on which their nominations were based were, according to him, not publicly declared.
He said this situation had understandably generated concerns among party members about the credibility and transparency of the process.
“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,” he said.
Concerns beyond governorship race
Adelabu further claimed that the grievances within the Oyo APC were not limited to the governorship primary.
He said questions had also emerged over the nomination processes for candidates seeking seats in the Senate, House of Representatives and State Houses of Assembly.
The former minister maintained that members who raised concerns were not doing so without supporting materials.
He claimed that documentary evidence, authenticated collation records and video materials were available to substantiate some of the allegations concerning the primary and other nomination exercises.
However, despite the existence of what he described as evidence, Adelabu said he had decided not to pursue a court battle at this point.
His position, he explained, was informed by the belief that prolonged litigation could further polarise the party and make reconciliation more difficult.
Rather than allow the disagreement to dominate the party’s activities, he called for the intervention of the APC national leadership.
Call for party-led reconciliation
Adelabu urged the national leadership of the APC to take responsibility for bringing the different sides together and finding a lasting solution to the grievances.
He argued that rebuilding trust within the party could not be left entirely to the aspirants who were directly affected by the nomination process.
According to him, the leadership has an important role to play in addressing complaints, restoring confidence among members and ensuring that those who feel aggrieved are given a fair opportunity to air their concerns.
He also warned, in effect, that unresolved disputes could have consequences for the party’s preparations for the 2027 elections.
The APC will need the support of its members across the wards and local government areas to mount an effective campaign in Oyo State, making internal cohesion an important factor ahead of the election.
Adelabu’s decision therefore appears aimed at keeping the disagreement from escalating into a prolonged political and legal battle, while still drawing attention to the concerns he said arose from the nomination process.
His statement also leaves his broader political ambition intact.
While describing his aspiration to lead Oyo State as a genuine desire to serve, Adelabu made it clear that he would not allow the pursuit of the governorship to become a source of permanent division within the APC.
For now, he has opted for restraint rather than litigation, urging the party leadership to use the available opportunity to address grievances and rebuild unity.
The development could provide room for further reconciliation within the Oyo APC as the party begins preparations for the 2027 election, particularly if the national leadership is willing to engage the various stakeholders involved in the dispute.
Adelabu’s position also underscores the wider challenge facing political parties after contentious nomination exercises: balancing the interests of individual aspirants with the need to preserve party cohesion ahead of a general election.
For the former minister, the immediate priority is to prevent the controversy from weakening the APC in Oyo State, while continuing to push for greater transparency and fairness within the party’s internal processes.
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