Former Minister of Power, Adebayo Adelabu, has refuted claims that President Bola Tinubu has endorsed any aspirant for the All Progressives Congress governorship ticket in Oyo State ahead of the 2027 elections.
His remarks come amid growing friction within the APC in the state, following reports that a faction of party leaders in Ibadan had settled on Sharafadeen Alli as a consensus candidate.
During the meeting, some stakeholders were said to have backed Alli as their preferred aspirant, while former senator Ayo Adeseun allegedly claimed that Tinubu had thrown his weight behind the move in his capacity as the party’s national leader.
Addressing party members at an APC gathering in Ibadan South-East, Adelabu dismissed the assertion, maintaining that no such endorsement had taken place.
“Anyone claiming the president had met with them and endorsed a candidate in Oyo State is not telling the truth,” he said.
Adelabu revealed that he had held a private meeting with Tinubu to discuss his governorship ambition, adding that the president encouraged him to remain committed to his long-held aspiration.
“The president told me it was time to pursue my ambition and assured me that I would not be obstructed,” he said.
He added that Tinubu stressed the importance of consultations among party stakeholders to achieve a consensus where possible, noting that direct primaries would be adopted if an agreement is not reached.
The former minister insisted that no aspirant has been officially endorsed in the Oyo APC governorship race, emphasising that all contenders are on equal footing.
He also expressed optimism about his chances, saying that even if the president were to back any candidate, he believes he would emerge as the preferred choice.
