According to report by Daily Trust on Sunday, May 3, 2026, former Minister of Power, Adebayo Adelabu, has clarified that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has not endorsed any individual for the Oyo State governorship election scheduled for 2027. He emphasized that no directive has been issued from the presidency regarding the selection of a candidate, countering claims suggesting otherwise.
Adelabu explained that rather than imposing a preferred candidate, the president encouraged him to continue pursuing his political ambition. He also noted that the All Progressives Congress (APC) would be responsible for determining its candidate selection process, either through a consensus arrangement or by conducting a direct primary election.
He made these remarks during a stakeholders’ meeting of the APC in Ibadan, where party members gathered to deliberate on internal strategies and preparations for the upcoming governorship contest. His statement came amid growing speculation within the party following reports that Sharafadeen Alli had been chosen as a consensus candidate.
The claim of such endorsement had been made earlier by former senator Ayo Adeseun, who attributed the decision to President Tinubu. Adeseun argued that the president’s leadership role within the party should significantly influence the choice of candidate. This assertion, however, sparked disagreements among APC members in Oyo State, as different factions expressed varying opinions on the appropriate selection process.
Rejecting these claims, Adelabu maintained that the president had not issued any such instruction. He revealed that he delayed his resignation from the Federal Executive Council to secure a private meeting with Tinubu, which took place the previous week.
During their discussion, Adelabu said the president suggested that party leaders could explore a consensus approach if feasible, while also leaving room for a direct primary if consensus could not be achieved. He stressed that no individual had been endorsed and cautioned against attributing such decisions to the president.
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