Oyo Guber Poll: “It’s All A Lie” — Adelabu Says Tinubu Has Not Handpicked Anyone

By Akanni Toba

Bayo Adelabu, immediate past minister of power, has debunked the rumour making the rounds that President Bola Tinubu has endorsed one of the governorship hopefuls of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Oyo State for the 2027 election.

Adelabu who described himself as Tinubu’s political son noted that the president would have told him in confidence if there’s such a plan

The ex-minister spoke with select journalists in Ibadan on Friday following his resignation from the Tinubu administration to pursue his governorship ambition.

“Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, president of the federal Republic of Nigeria with 36 states, 774 local governments and almost 9,000 wards… he will not endorse or have special interest in anybody,” he said.

“Of course, in the last two, three weeks, there have been rumours that Asiwaju has endorsed someone else. But it is all a lie. I am his son. If he has such a plan, he would have told me.”

Adelabu stated that nothing serves as proof of his intimate relationship with Tinubu more than the support he had enjoyed from the Nigeria’s helmsman in the past.

“We did the 2019 election together. He supported me and we got to the supreme court. Also, during the 2023 election, we were together before I defected to Accord Party and I even supported him,” Adelabu said.

“When he became the president, he invited me despite being from another party, to be a minister in his cabinet. And not too longer after, I came back here to the APC where I truly belong.”

Recall that Tinubu appointed Adelabu as minister of power in August 2023 following his confirmation by the senate.

However, on Wednesday, Adelabu resigned his appointment , citing the need to comply with the Electoral Act and focus on his governorship ambition in Oyo.

He also described the move as a calculated risk he was willing to take, noting that it aligns with his long-held political goal of leading the state.

“The singular reason for my resignation is to come back and plead for the opportunity to represent our party as the guber candidate in the 2027 general election. That is the only reason why I resigned,” he said.

“And this is not my first time of taking such risk because it is what I believe in and I’m ready to satisfy anything to ensure that I get to that position of representing our party and of winning the election.”

The ex-minister’s claim was prompted by the speculation in some quarters that Tinubu has endorsed Sarafadeen Alli, the Senate representing Oyo South as the APC’s gubernatorial candidate for the upcoming election.

It’s believed that the Olubadan of Ibadan, Oba Adewolu Ladoja, who is a former governor of Oyo State, facilitated Alli’s endorsement by Tinubu.

Alli served as the Secretary to the State Government (SSG) during Ladoja’s reign as Oyo State governor.

Meanwhile, Ladoja has told politicians to stop dragging him into what he described as “dirty politics” stressing that he is nothing apolitical but also a father to all.