Former Minister of Power, Adebayo Adelabu, has withdrawn from the 2027 governorship race in Oyo State after losing the All Progressives Congress (APC) ticket, but said his decision does not amount to conceding what he described as injustice in the party’s primary.
Adelabu announced his withdrawal in a statement personally signed by him on Thursday, titled, “APC Nomination Process in Oyo State: Closing the Contest, Not Conceding the Injustice.”
The former minister said he arrived at the decision after deep reflection and a strategic reassessment of recent developments within the party and the road ahead.
He explained that following the “intensity and challenges” of the past several months, he took a short vacation outside the country before returning to consult with APC leaders and supporters across Oyo State.
According to Adelabu, the consultations focused on concerns raised by party members, aspirants and other stakeholders over the governorship primary as well as the senatorial, House of Representatives and state House of Assembly nominations.
He said the meetings reinforced concerns about the transparency and credibility of the nomination process, particularly the absence of publicly declared and verifiable results.
“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.
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“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 said.
Despite withdrawing from the contest, the former minister stressed that he was not conceding the alleged irregularities surrounding the primary.
His decision effectively ends his bid for the APC ticket while leaving unresolved the concerns he raised about the party’s nomination process in Oyo State.
