Oyo APC ticket: Adelabu rejects Alli’s ‘consensus’ candidacy

Former Minister of Power, Adebayo Adelabu, has rejected claims that the All Progressives Congress has settled for Senator Sarafadeen Alli as its governorship candidate in Oyo State ahead of the 2027 election.

Adelabu, one of the aspirants in the recently concluded APC governorship primary in the state, said no candidate had been officially declared by the party’s national leadership.

His statement comes after Oyo APC chairman, Moses Adeyemo, reportedly declared Alli as the party’s governorship candidate following a meeting with President Bola Tinubu in Lagos.

Several reports had also claimed that Alli had emerged as the consensus candidate of the party.

But Adelabu, in a statement on Monday, cautioned party members against accepting any list of candidates being circulated through unofficial channels.

He said no individual or group at the state level had the authority to announce the final outcome of the primaries.

According to him, only the national headquarters of the APC can make a valid pronouncement on the matter.

“At this crucial stage, no one should allow himself or herself to be misled by rumours, propaganda or premature victory claims designed to manipulate public perception, create confusion among party faithful and influence ongoing consultations within the party,” Adelabu said.

He described the reports of consensus arrangements and purported lists of successful candidates as premature and misleading.

Adelabu warned that such claims could deepen divisions within the party and damage its chances ahead of the 2027 election.

“Such actions are neither helpful to the party nor consistent with the principles of fairness, discipline and internal democracy that should guide our conduct as loyal APC members,” he added.

The former minister urged APC members in Oyo State to remain calm and wait for the final decision of the party’s national leadership in Abuja.

He said any list of candidates being circulated on social media or through unofficial platforms should be treated with caution.

“Any purported list of candidates being circulated on social media or through unofficial channels should be treated with utmost caution until the national leadership of the party makes its official pronouncement,” he said.

Adelabu also expressed concern over reports that some aggrieved members had begun leaving the APC because of the alleged consensus arrangements.

He warned that defections at this stage would only weaken the party and strengthen its opponents.

“I condemn these defections in their entirety. Leaving our great party at this moment will not solve any perceived grievance. Rather, it weakens the collective strength we have painstakingly built over the years and ultimately benefits our political opponents,” he stated.

Adelabu recalled that internal divisions and defections affected the APC in the 2019 and 2023 elections in Oyo State.

He said the party must not repeat the same mistakes if it hopes to return to power in 2027.

The APC chieftain said he remained confident that the party’s national leadership would address all complaints arising from the primary process.

“I have absolute confidence that the national leadership of our party possesses the wisdom, experience and institutional capacity to address all concerns arising from the primary process,” he said.

He appealed to party leaders, aspirants, youth groups, women groups and support organisations to avoid inflammatory statements capable of worsening the crisis.

Adelabu also warned those spreading claims of endorsements, approvals or predetermined consensus arrangements to stop creating false impressions among party members.

He said the unity of the APC should be placed above personal ambition, adding that the party still had a chance to emerge stronger if all grievances were handled properly.

Adelabu resigned as Minister of Power on April 30, 2026, to contest the Oyo APC governorship primary.