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Former Minister of Power and All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship aspirant in Oyo State, Adebayo Adelabu, has said he will not pursue an internal party appeal or legal action over the party’s 2027 nomination process, despite what he described as serious concerns over transparency and fairness.
Adelabu made this known in a statement issued after a meeting with party leaders, representatives of loyalists and supporters from the 33 local government areas and 351 wards of Oyo State on Wednesday, August 26, 2026.
He said the meeting reviewed developments surrounding the conclusion of the APC nomination exercises for the 2027 general elections and the concerns raised by aspirants and party members.
According to him, 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 names were entered on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) electronic portal as the party’s candidates.
He said the development affected nominations for the governorship, Senate, House of Representatives and State House of Assembly.
Adelabu further claimed that documentary materials, authenticated collation records and video evidence were available which, in his view, raised questions about aspects of the primary elections and their outcomes.
Despite the concerns, the former Central Bank of Nigeria deputy governor said he had decided not to pursue an appeal within the party or institute legal proceedings “at this time.”
He stressed that the decision should not be interpreted as surrender or an admission that the process was fair.
“This decision is not because of a lack of evidence, confidence or conviction,” Adelabu said, adding that he chose not to escalate the matter in the interest of peace, party stability and the future of the APC in Oyo State.
The former minister said the APC National Chairman had, during his recent visit to Oyo State, acknowledged errors, unfairness and injustice associated with aspects of the primary election process.
Adelabu, however, maintained that an acknowledgement or apology should not replace corrective action where grievances could still be addressed.
He urged the national leadership of the party to initiate a comprehensive reconciliation process covering all categories of nominations and involving affected stakeholders.
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According to him, reconciliation should go beyond persuading aggrieved members to accept the outcome, stressing that the issues that generated the grievances must first be addressed.
He also warned that the grievances should not be viewed solely as the concerns of individual aspirants, noting that thousands of party members who participated in the primaries may feel that their votes, sacrifices and preferences were disregarded.
“The National Leadership of our party must therefore appreciate that the responsibility for reconciliation cannot simply be transferred to aspirants,” he said.
Adelabu argued that electoral victory could not be achieved merely by uploading candidates’ names to an electronic portal, but depended on the trust, enthusiasm and active participation of party members, particularly at the grassroots.
He nevertheless reaffirmed his commitment to the APC, saying he would not leave the party despite the controversy surrounding the 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.
Adelabu also said his ambition to become governor of Oyo State was not a “do-or-die project,” stressing that his aspiration was motivated by a desire to contribute to the development and prosperity of the state.
He urged his supporters and loyalists to remain peaceful, restrained and civil, while warning against 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 saying that while he was closing the particular contest, he was not conceding what he described as injustice in 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.
