2027: APC drops power minister Adelabu from Oyo governorship race

The 2027 governorship bid of the Minister of Power, Adebayo Adelabu, has reportedly hit a major hurdle as key figures within the All Progressives Congress (APC) are said to have withdrawn support for his candidacy.

Influential stakeholders in the ruling party are now backing Senator Sharafadeen Alli for the Oyo governorship race, according to multiple credible reports. Party insiders say concerns over Adelabu’s perceived controversies and doubts about his electoral viability played a significant role in the shift.

Sources familiar with internal deliberations revealed that top APC power brokers in the Southwest consider the minister a polarising figure—an assessment that worked against him during a strategic meeting with President Bola Tinubu at his private residence in Lagos on Monday.

Adelabu’s performance as Minister of Power was also cited as a factor that may have weakened his chances.

The minister, who announced his governorship ambition shortly after his appointment in 2023, began statewide consultations in 2025. Throughout his engagements, he openly campaigned for support and consistently asserted that it was “his turn” to lead Oyo State.

In contrast, Senator Alli is said to enjoy broad confidence among party leaders due to his quiet, low-profile approach and reputation for behind-the-scenes effectiveness. The 63-year-old lawmaker, a lawyer by training, chairs the Senate Committee on Agricultural Colleges and Institutions. He has previously served as Secretary to the Oyo State Government and as Chief of Staff to the governor.

Monday’s meeting in Lagos was attended by prominent APC leaders, including Senate Leader Opeyemi Bamidele, Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, and Ogun State Governor Dapo Abiodun. Key stakeholders from Oyo, Ogun, and Lagos—three Southwest states scheduled for gubernatorial elections in 2027—were also present.

Meanwhile, emerging reports suggest that Lagos Deputy Governor Obafemi Hamzat is being considered for the APC governorship ticket in Lagos, while Senator Olamilekan Adeola is being positioned as the preferred candidate in Ogun.

The APC leadership has repeatedly signaled its inclination toward adopting consensus arrangements for selecting candidates ahead of the 2027 general elections.