Adelabu Camp Kicks As APC Unveils Alli As Oyo Gov Candidate

The All Progressives Congress (APC) on Thursday unveiled Senator Sharafadeen Alli as its candidate for the 2027 Oyo State governorship election.

Naija News reports that the party also announced Adesoji Adedeji as Alli’s running mate.

The unveiling ceremony, held in Ibadan, attracted party leaders, stakeholders, executives and supporters from across the state.

However, the camp of a former minister and governorship aspirant, Adebayo Adelabu, said it was still awaiting an official pronouncement from the APC national leadership on the party’s candidate.

Speaking with Punch, Adelabu’s media aide, Femi Awogboro, dismissed claims that a final decision had been reached, insisting that only the national leadership of the APC was empowered to announce the party’s candidate.

“We are still awaiting the national body. If you recall, when the agitation started, the national leadership clearly stated that all stakeholders should remain patient until an official announcement is made,” Awogboro said.

He argued that claims suggesting the process had concluded were premature and unsupported by any formal communication from the party hierarchy.

“So, whatever anyone is doing now is merely speculative. We are yet to receive any official communication from the national body,” he added.

Awogboro maintained that although internal party processes might be ongoing, no aspirant should be regarded as the party’s flagbearer until ratified by the national leadership.

“The party is supreme, and my principal has great respect for the supremacy of the party. If the party decides not to release the results at this stage, that is within its prerogative.

“However, it would be better for the party to release the outcome of the primary, as earlier promised, to further strengthen confidence in the party. Above all, the national body must ensure that the right process is followed,” he said.

Adelabu Camp Rejects Alleged List

Reacting to reports of an alleged list of individuals cleared for national and state legislative elections, Awogboro questioned its authenticity and dismissed claims that the list favoured a particular faction.

“I don’t know where the purported list is coming from. Oyo is not the only state in Nigeria. Party affairs must follow the same standard procedure. You cannot have a process that sidelines other aspirants,” he said.

He also warned against reconciliation efforts founded on alleged injustice, stressing that fairness and due process must guide the party’s internal affairs.

“If the process is undermined from the outset and reconciliation is later pursued without carrying all aspirants along, such efforts are unlikely to achieve the desired outcome. You cannot reconcile an injustice that was deliberately created. The right thing is to ensure that justice and due process prevail from the beginning,” Awogboro noted.

On allegations of bias within the party structure, Awogboro claimed some actors within the system were already aligned with particular interests, describing the development as unhealthy for internal democracy.

Asked about Adelabu’s position amid the controversy, he said the former minister remained calm and was awaiting the decision of the APC National Working Committee.

“He is fine. Nothing has changed. We are all awaiting the National Working Committee to make its official pronouncement,” Awogboro said.