Former Minister of Power and All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship aspirant in Oyo State, Chief Adebayo Adelabu, has ruled out pursuing an internal party appeal or legal action over the party’s controversial 2027 nomination process, insisting, however, that his decision should not be mistaken for an acceptance of alleged injustice.
Adelabu made his position known in a statement issued after a meeting with party leaders, representatives of his loyalists and supporters drawn from the 33 local government areas and 351 wards of Oyo State on Wednesday, August 26, 2026.
The meeting reviewed developments surrounding the conclusion of the APC nomination exercises for the 2027 general elections, as well as concerns raised by aspirants and other party members over the process.
According to Adelabu, the actual results of the primaries, including votes allegedly scored by aspirants at ward and local government levels, were not formally and transparently declared before the names of candidates were uploaded on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) electronic portal.
He said the concerns affected nominations for the governorship, Senate, House of Representatives and State House of Assembly.
The former Deputy Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria also claimed that documentary materials, authenticated collation records and video evidence were available, raising questions about certain aspects of the primary elections and their outcomes.
Despite the alleged irregularities, Adelabu said he had chosen not to pursue an appeal within the APC or institute legal proceedings at this time.
He maintained that the decision was neither a surrender nor an admission that the process was fair, stressing that he had sufficient evidence, confidence and conviction to challenge the outcome.
“This decision is not because of a lack of evidence, confidence or conviction,” Adelabu said.
He explained that his decision not to escalate the matter was taken in the interest of peace, party stability and the future of the APC in Oyo State.
Adelabu noted that the APC National Chairman, during his recent visit to Oyo State, acknowledged errors, unfairness and injustice associated with aspects of the primary election process.
He argued, however, that an acknowledgement or apology should not replace corrective measures where genuine grievances could still be addressed.
The former minister consequently called on the national leadership of the APC to commence a comprehensive reconciliation process covering all categories of nominations and involving all affected stakeholders.
According to him, reconciliation must go beyond merely persuading aggrieved members to accept the outcome, insisting that the issues responsible for the grievances must first be properly addressed.
Adelabu warned that the controversy should not be seen only as the personal grievances of individual aspirants, noting that thousands of party members who participated in the primaries could feel that their votes, sacrifices and preferences had been disregarded.
“The National Leadership of our party must therefore appreciate that the responsibility for reconciliation cannot simply be transferred to aspirants,” he said.
He further maintained that electoral victory could not be guaranteed simply by uploading candidates’ names on an electronic portal, stressing that success at the polls depended largely on the trust, enthusiasm and active participation of party members, particularly at the grassroots.
Adelabu nevertheless reaffirmed his commitment to the APC, declaring that he would not leave the party despite the controversy surrounding its nomination process.
“I remain in the APC, and my loyalty to the party and to the administration and leadership of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu remains unwavering,” he said.
The former minister also described his ambition to become governor of Oyo State as not being a “do-or-die project,” explaining that his aspiration was driven by his desire to contribute to the development and prosperity of the state.
He appealed to his supporters and loyalists to remain peaceful, restrained and civil, while warning them against engaging in any form of anti-party activity.
“I do not support, encourage or condone any form of anti-party activity by any of my supporters, loyalists, associates or political structures,” he said.
Adelabu concluded by making it clear that although he was ending his challenge over the particular contest, he was not conceding the alleged injustice surrounding the nomination process.
“We may be closing this particular contest, but we are not conceding the injustice. We are choosing the path of peace without surrendering the principles of fairness, transparency and democratic justice,” he said. (newsense.ng)
