Governorship aspirant of the All Progressives Congress in Oyo State, Adebayo Adelabu, has urged party members to remain calm and await the official pronouncement of the party’s national leadership on the outcome of the recently concluded primaries.

Adelabu also cautioned against widely circulated consensus arrangements on candidates of the APC for governorship and other elective positions from the state for the 2027 general election.

Adelabu, who resigned as Minister of Power on April 30, 2026, contested the APC governorship primaries in Oyo State alongside eight others, with Senator Sarafadeen Alli reported in several quarters as having won the primaries and being the consensus candidate of the party.

Oyo APC chairman, Moses Adeyemo, had, after a meeting with President Bola Tinubu in Lagos, at the weekend, also declared Alli as the party’s candidate for the governorship election.

Adelabu, in a statement on Monday, however, said “no individual or group at the state level had been authorised to announce the final outcome of the primaries,” insisting that only the party’s national headquarters could make such a declaration.

He urged members to disregard lists of purported successful candidates being circulated through “unofficial channels,” describing them as premature and potentially misleading.

He said, “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.

“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.”

According to him, party faithful should exercise patience and confidence in the leadership of the APC while awaiting the final decision from Abuja.

“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,” Adelabu said.

The APC chieftain expressed concern over reports that some members had begun leaving the party over rumours of alleged consensus arrangements, stressing that such actions could weaken the party ahead of future elections.

He warned aggrieved members against defecting to opposition parties over unverified reports.

“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 the party’s experiences in the 2019 and 2023 elections, warning that internal divisions and avoidable defections had previously affected its electoral fortunes.

He said the party must avoid repeating mistakes that could jeopardise its chances in future elections.

The governorship aspirant expressed confidence in the APC national leadership’s ability to address concerns arising from the primary process and ensure fairness and justice for all stakeholders.

“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 added.

Adelabu further called on party leaders, youth and women groups, support organisations and fellow aspirants to avoid inflammatory comments and actions capable of deepening divisions within the party.

He also urged those spreading claims of endorsements, approvals or predetermined consensus arrangements to desist, saying such actions were capable of creating false impressions among party members.

The former minister maintained that members should place the unity of the APC above individual ambitions and remain committed to the collective goal of returning the party to power in Oyo State.

He assured party faithful that all concerns raised over the primaries would receive attention through the appropriate party structures, expressing optimism that the APC would emerge stronger and more united. (PUNCH)