Bayo Adelabu Dismisses Reports of Presidential Endorsement for 2027 Oyo State Governorship Race

Bayo Adelabu clarifies that President Tinubu and the Olubadan have not endorsed any 2027 Oyo governorship candidate, calling for a fair primary.

By: AXL Media

Published: Apr 24, 2026, 5:16 AM EDT

Source: Information for this report was sourced from Politics Nigeria

Denial of High Level Political Endorsements

Bayo Adelabu, a prominent governorship aspirant under the All Progressives Congress banner in Oyo State, has officially debunked reports suggesting a preferred candidate has been selected for the 2027 elections. Addressing a gathering of supporters in Ibadan following his return from the federal capital, Abuja, Adelabu labeled claims of endorsements from President Bola Tinubu and the Olubadan of Ibadanland as entirely fabricated. He urged the party faithful to remain focused and not be swayed by rumors intended to prematurely narrow the field of contenders.

Presidential Neutrality in State Affairs

The former minister emphasized that President Tinubu, as the leader of the entire federation, maintains an objective distance from individual state contests. Adelabu remarked that the President oversees a vast administrative landscape including 36 states and nearly 3,000 wards, making the endorsement of a specific local aspirant highly improbable. According to Adelabu, the President’s official stance is for the party at the state level to determine its own path through established democratic processes rather than executive fiat.

Guidelines for Party Consensus and Primaries

Reflecting on recent directives from the presidency, Adelabu noted that the administration has encouraged party stakeholders to explore two primary paths for candidate selection. The first is to reach a unified consensus among critical stakeholders on the ground in Oyo State. If a mutual agreement proves impossible to achieve, the party is expected to proceed with a direct primary election. This approach is intended to ensure that the eventual nominee carries a legitimate mandate from the broader party membership.