Confusion and controversy have continued to trail the buildup to the All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship primary election in Oyo State, following conflicting reports over the alleged disqualification of two leading aspirants — former Minister of Power, Adebayo Adelabu and Senator Sharafadeen Alli.
With social media flooded by claims, counterclaims, leaked reports, and political propaganda from rival camps, many party members and observers are now asking one major question: who should Nigerians believe?
The latest controversy began after reports emerged alleging that Adelabu had been disqualified by the APC screening committee ahead of the party’s governorship primary election scheduled for Thursday in Oyo State.
According to reports circulating within party circles, the screening committee allegedly submitted a report indicating that the former Deputy Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria failed to meet certain requirements set by the panel. Though the exact details of the alleged infractions were not officially disclosed by the party at the time of the reports, insiders claimed the move was intended to prevent possible legal disputes that could affect the APC ahead of the 2027 governorship election.
The development came barely days after supporters of Adelabu staged protests at the Oyo APC secretariat, demanding that the party abandon any consensus arrangement and instead conduct a direct primary election process.
The protest followed growing allegations that party leaders had already endorsed Senator Sharafadeen Alli as the preferred consensus candidate for the 2027 governorship race.
Political tension within the party intensified after APC stakeholders reportedly reaffirmed Alli’s adoption during a strategic meeting held in Ibadan. The meeting reportedly strengthened speculations that powerful forces within the party hierarchy had settled for the senator ahead of the primary.
However, in a dramatic twist, another report later surfaced alleging that Senator Alli himself had also been disqualified from the race.
According to sources within the party, Alli’s alleged disqualification was linked to accusations that he was simultaneously receiving salaries as a serving senator and as a traditional title holder in Ibadanland — a development reportedly considered a violation of public service regulations.
Though the claims remain largely unverified officially, the report immediately triggered another round of political debate across social media platforms, with supporters of both aspirants accusing one another of spreading falsehood and misinformation to manipulate public perception ahead of the primary election.
The situation has now left many APC faithful confused over the true status of both aspirants.
As of the time of filing this report, the Oyo APC had yet to issue a comprehensive official statement clearly confirming or denying the alleged disqualification of either Adelabu or Alli.
Party insiders, however, hinted that aspirants who were dissatisfied with the screening outcome still have the constitutional right to appeal before the party’s appeal committee prior to the commencement of the primary election.
This has raised another important question among political observers: has Adelabu officially appealed the alleged disqualification, and if so, will the appeal committee overturn the screening decision before the primary election begins?
Similarly, supporters of Alli are also awaiting clarity regarding the allegations surrounding his eligibility.
Adelabu, popularly known as “Penkelemesi,” recently resigned from his ministerial position to fully pursue his governorship ambition in Oyo State. His entrance into the race significantly altered the political calculations within the Oyo APC due to his strong grassroots structure, financial influence, and previous governorship experience.
Meanwhile, Senator Alli has continued to enjoy substantial backing from influential stakeholders within the party, especially following reports that some APC leaders had earlier adopted him as a consensus candidate.
The unfolding controversy now threatens to deepen existing divisions within the Oyo APC at a time the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) continues consolidating its structure in the state ahead of 2027.
Political analysts believe the manner in which the APC handles the screening controversies and primary election process may determine the party’s unity and electoral strength moving forward.
For now, uncertainty remains the dominant mood within the Oyo APC camp.
Until the party releases an official final list of cleared aspirants or concludes the appeal process, reports surrounding the alleged disqualification of Adelabu and Alli may remain speculative, leaving party supporters and political observers anxiously waiting for clarity ahead of the highly anticipated governorship primary election.
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