Former Minister of Power, Adebayo Adelabu, has withdrawn from the 2027 Oyo State governorship race after losing the All Progressives Congress, APC, ticket.
Adelabu announced his decision in a statement he personally signed on Thursday, titled ‘APC Nomination Process in Oyo State: Closing the Contest, Not Conceding the Injustice’.
The former minister stressed that his withdrawal should not be interpreted as an acceptance of what he described as injustice during the APC governorship primary.
Rather, he said the decision followed what he described as a period of deep reflection and a strategic reassessment of recent developments within the party and his political future.
Adelabu said he took a short vacation outside Nigeria following what he described as the “intensity and challenges” of the preceding months.
According to him, he returned to the state and held consultations with APC leaders and supporters across Oyo State to assess the situation and determine the appropriate course of action.
He said the meetings also provided an opportunity to review concerns raised by party members, aspirants and other stakeholders over the nomination exercises.
According to Adelabu, the concerns were not limited to the governorship primary but also extended to the party’s nominations for the Senate, House of Representatives and Oyo State House of Assembly.
He said the absence of publicly declared and verifiable results had raised questions about the credibility 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.”
Adelabu further claimed that his consultations revealed the existence of documentary materials which, in his view, could raise questions about the conduct and outcome of the primary.
“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.”
Despite withdrawing from the contest, Adelabu made clear that he was not conceding the alleged irregularitiessurrounding the APC nomination process.
His decision effectively ends his bid to secure the APC ticket and contest the 2027 Oyo State governorship electionunder the party.
The former minister’s statement also suggests that questions surrounding the party’s nomination process could remain a subject of political and legal debate, particularly if the alleged documentary and video evidence is formally presented before the appropriate party or judicial authorities.
Adelabu was among the prominent aspirants seeking the APC ticket as the party prepares for the 2027 governorship election in Oyo State.
His withdrawal comes amid growing political activity within the state, with parties and aspirants positioning themselves ahead of the election.
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