As He Opens More Campaign Offices In IBADAN
Chief Adebayo Adelabu has commenced a grand plan to actualise his guber ambition. Adelabu, the Minister of Power, is hoping to, once again, fly the flag of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the Oyo State governorship election in 2027. He contested same post in 2019 under APC, and then 2023 under Accord political party but lost on the two occasions to the incumbent governor, Engr. Seyi Makinde of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
In 2019, Adelabu’s emergence as APC guber candidate generated a lot of controversies within the then ruling party in the state during the administrations of late former governor Abiola Ajimobi. It was believed that Adelabu was then lorded over party faithfuls and stakeholders.
The disunity within the party in the state then left it badly shattered and contributed to its eventual failure in the election. So it wasn’t surprising when some stakeholders within the party raised eyebrows when Adelabu signified his interest to fly the party’s flag again in 2023. Having strongly convinced that he had better chances but realized his political ambition may not come to reality in APC, ‘Penkelemesi’, as Adelabu is popularly called within the political circle, in May 2022 dumped the party and pitched his tent with Accord, where he contested but came third to Makinde. The former Senate Leader, Senator Teslim Folarin, APC’s candidate, was the first runner-up in the election.
In a turn of events, Adelabu, however, returned to APC shortly after the 2023 general elections that produced Senator Bola Ahmed Tinubu as President. Of course, he was later to be made a minister. While speaking on his return to APC, Adelabu was quoted to have said that he returned to the party “to help President Bola Tinubu’s administration succeed.” He emphasized the fact that his decision to return to the APC was not about his governorship ambition.
He said, “I returned not because of 2027 governorship ambition or to take over the party, but because I believe this is a party that brought President Bola Tinubu to power, and we need to support him to deliver on his electoral promises.”
Now that Adelabu is fully in APC and wants to, once again, contest the party’s governorship ticket against the 2027 election, many have expressed worries over the repeat of the 2023 scenario, where some stakeholders of the party may still work against his ambition.
But Adelabu’s loyalists and those who work closely with him will readily dismiss such fears. They’ve insisted that Adelabu is more prepared than ever.
Just a few days ago, Bolaji Tunji, an aide to Adelabu, came out to say that non of those who have signified their interest to contest the 2027 guber race can match his boss’ political pedigree.
Tunji insisted that Adelabu remains the best of them all. He made the assertion in reaction to a statement credited to the former Minister of Communications, Barr. Bayo Shittu. Shittu had said that Oyo APC will face challenges if Bayo Adelabu emerges governorship candidate of the party in 2027. Addressing the issue, however, Tunji maintained that Shittu must have overlooked Adelabu’s exemplary credentials and proven leadership traits.
He said, “Adelabu is not merely a candidate to be ‘imposed,’ he is a visionary leader whose brilliance, achievements, and pedigree make him a standout choice for any electoral contest.
As Minister of Power, Adelabu has brought renewed vigour to Nigeria’s energy sector, spearheading critical reforms to improve grid stability, expand renewable energy investments, and enhance transparency in the sector.
His hands-on approach has already begun addressing longstanding challenges, earning him recognition as a pragmatic problem-solver committed to national development.
Under Adelabu’s watch as minister, Nigeria achieved a historical landmark generation of 6,003 megawatts in less than two years, while it took over 40 years. from 2,000 megawatts in the 80s to an average of 4,000 megawatts in 2021. The minister also achieved a record evacuation of 5,801 megawatts.
All these have shown that Adelabu will perform exceptionally as Oyo State governor.
Meanwhile, it took over 40 years to move from 2,000 megawatts in the 1980s to an average of 4,000 megawatts in 2021.
The Minister also achieved a record evacuation of 5,801 megawatts. All these show that Adelabu will perform exceptionally as Oyo State governor.”
Tunji also noted that even though Adelabu’s governorship bid in 2019 was unsuccessful, he demonstrated his dedication to public service and his deep connection to the aspirations of the people.
His campaigns, according to Tunji, were marked by a focus on infrastructure, education, and youth empowerment-priorities that remain urgent today.
Tunji not only emphasized on Adelabu’s political pedigree and achievements as a public servant but also dueled on his antecedents, having come from a family with a heritage of public service. His grandfather, Adegoke Adelabu, was a revered nationalist and political icon.
To Tunji, Adelabu’s candidacy wouldn’t be an imposition but a celebration of merit for the teeming APC family in Oyo State.
“His blend of technocratic competence, political experience, and passion for transformative governance makes him an asset to the APC and the people.
“Rather than courting trouble, the party would gain a candidate whose credentials inspire confidence and whose vision aligns with the needs of a dynamic electorate.
“Adelabu’s brilliance and integrity are precisely what Nigeria needs to navigate the future,” he said.
But away from political pedigree and achievements, Adelabu’s physical presence all over the town shows that he has indeed intensified his plans not only to win APC ticket but also to become victorious in the guber election.
There is hardly anywhere you turn to in Ibadan that you won’t see either Adelabu’s large format banners with his bold photo and that of President Bola Tinubu (with the Renewed Hope Vision written on them) or campaign office. More campaign offices of Bayo Adelabu vision are springing in strategic locations in Ibadan and other parts of the state.
Those who should be in the know have also revealed to this magazine that beyond the surface, Adelabu has since put in place a reconciliatory mechanism to woo to his side those who must have been fell sidelined or cheated. Having learnt from his past experience in politics. His major strategy, we scooped, is to engage on one on one consultations. Of course, he will also use his connections and influence at the federal level and his closeness to the President to rally supports needed for him to get his party’s governorship ticket.
Adebayo Adelabu, born on 28th of September 1970, is a former Deputy Governor, Operations of the Central Bank of Nigeria and currently the Minister of Power.
He attended Ibadan Municipal Government primary school, Agodi Ibadan from 1976 to 1982 and Lagelu Grammar School, Ibadan from 1982 to 1987.
Adelabu bagged a first class degree in Accounting from Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife.
He is a Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (ICAN), a Fellow of Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria and an Associate Member of the Institute of Directors of Nigeria and the United Kingdom.
Adelabu has also taken up professional courses in various business schools, including Harvard, Stanford, Wharton, Columbia, Kelloggs, Euromoney, and the University of London.
Adebayo was appointed by former President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan in February 2014 as Deputy Governor, Operations of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).
He’s the Agbaakin Parakoyi of Ibadanland. Adelabu is also a serial entrepreneur. His business interests cut across Hospitality, Real Estate, Sports, Agriculture and more.
-Dare Adeniran
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