Adelabu Declares for Oyo Governorship Race Amid Tensions Over Candidate Imposition

Former Minister of Power, Adebayo Adelabu, has formally declared his intention to run for governor of Oyo State in the 2027 election under the banner of the All Progressives Congress.

The declaration took place on Tuesday at the Liberty Stadium in Ibadan, drawing a large crowd of supporters and loyalists.

Adelabu, who has contested the governorship twice before, stated that his return to the race is motivated by the need for stronger leadership and faster development in the state. He argued that Oyo State must transition from potential to prosperity through competent and people-focused governance.

If elected, he pledged to prioritise economic transformation, security upgrades, infrastructure renewal, quality education, healthcare delivery, youth empowerment, and inclusive governance. He described himself not as a perfect man but as a prepared leader committed to delivering results.

Adelabu also unveiled what he called the “Oyo Rebirth Agenda,” a blueprint focused on economic revival, job creation, modern security systems, effective local government administration, and social welfare programmes. Other pillars include agricultural revolution, education reform, healthcare transformation, urban development, youth and women empowerment, civil service reforms, and promotion of culture and tourism.

He emphasised that the 2027 election should transcend personalities and political interests, framing it as a decision about the future of children, youth employment, community safety, schools, healthcare, and governance inclusiveness.

Aspirants Reject Imposition

However, in a parallel development, several APC governorship aspirants in Oyo State have rejected what they described as attempts to impose a candidate ahead of the election.

The aggrieved aspirants include former Deputy Governor Rauf Olaniyan, Adewale Kareem, Musbau Asanike, Akeem Agbaje, Oyedele Alao, and Ololade Bakare. They reached a resolution after a meeting in Ibadan on Tuesday.

Their protest follows the endorsement of Senator Sharafadeen Alli, who represents Oyo South, by some APC leaders as a consensus governorship candidate. At a May 1 event, a party chieftain claimed that President Bola Tinubu backed Alli’s candidacy.

In a communiqué issued after their meeting, the aspirants reaffirmed their loyalty to the APC but warned against any form of imposition. They declared that while they would support whoever emerges as the party’s flagbearer, such a candidate must not be forced on party members, describing imposition as a betrayal of democracy.

They expressed support for consensus arrangements but insisted that the process must be transparent and democratic, not a cover for exclusion or manipulation. The aspirants also condemned vote-buying and financial inducement, warning that when money speaks louder than merit, the party suffers and the people lose.

They cautioned that the APC risks repeating the mistakes that led to its defeat in the 2019 and 2023 elections if fairness and internal democracy are ignored, noting that division and injustice had weakened their ranks in the past.

The aspirants further stressed that fairness should extend beyond the governorship race to other elective positions, including the Senate, House of Representatives, and state House of Assembly.

Meanwhile, Oyo APC Chairman Moses Adeyemo announced on Monday that the party would adopt direct primaries to select its governorship candidate. The primaries are scheduled for May 21, 2026.