The political landscape in Oyo State has taken a dramatic turn as internal tensions within the All Progressives Congress (APC) continue to escalate ahead of the 2027 governorship race.
Former Minister of Power and APC governorship aspirant, Adebayo Adelabu, has publicly accused the Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Rashidi Ladoja, of influencing the party’s electoral losses in the 2019 and 2023 governorship elections.
Adelabu, who is making his third bid for the Oyo governorship following his recent resignation from the Federal Executive Council, made the claims in a video that has since gone viral across social media platforms.
In the widely circulated footage, the former minister alleged that the monarch is backing the emergence of Senator Sharafadeen Abiodun Alli as the APC’s consensus candidate for the 2027 election. He vowed to resist what he described as attempts to impose a candidate on party members.
His comments come on the heels of a recent endorsement of Alli by key APC stakeholders in Oyo State — a move that has sparked division within the party, particularly among Adelabu’s supporters.
Adelabu further stated that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu had given him the green light to contest the governorship seat, insisting that the President did not endorse any specific aspirant for the race.
The development has sharply divided opinions within political circles in the state. While some party members and observers have praised Adelabu for taking a stand against perceived political imposition and “godfatherism,” others have condemned his remarks as disrespectful to the revered traditional institution of the Olubadan.
As of the time of filing this report, the Olubadan Palace has yet to issue any official response to the allegations.
The unfolding controversy has added a new layer of uncertainty to the APC’s internal dynamics in Oyo State, raising concerns about party unity as preparations for the 2027 elections gather momentum.
