Plot to oust Adelabu thickens, ignites renewed internal crisis in Oyo

The political landscape within the Oyo State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has taken a dramatic turn as fresh intrigues emerge regarding the 2027 governorship race.

What initially appeared to be a successful reconciliation process following years of factional warfare is now being threatened by a sophisticated plot aimed at undermining Adebayo Adelabu, Minister of Power and reshaping the party’s leadership structure.

At the heart of this alleged unfolding controversy is Zach Adedeji, Executive Chairman of the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS).

High-ranking party sources alleged that Adedeji is quietly orchestrating a strategic realignment designed to dictate the APC’s gubernatorial ticket.

The purported plan involves installing Sharafa Alli, a Senator, as the governorship candidate, with Adedeji’s younger brother positioned as the running mate.

This political maneuvering has reportedly sent shockwaves through the party’s three primary power blocs namely the Adelabu structure, the Tessy faction, and the Ajimobi/SENACO loyalists.

Insiders within the Presidency have raised alarms over what they describe as a deliberate demarketing campaign against Adelabu.

Allegations suggest that subtle efforts are being made to question the Minister’s suitability for the state’s top job during high-level conversations in Abuja.

This strategy, according to analysts, is a classic political gambit intended to erode a rival’s credibility among the elite power brokers who will ultimately influence the party’s direction.

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The role of the Presidency is considered pivotal in this struggle.

Since Oyo lacks a sitting APC governor to enforce internal order, President Bola Tinubu is expected to serve as the ultimate arbiter, similar to his intervention in the Osun State APC crisis. Consequently, the battle for influence has shifted to the corridors of power in the Federal Capital Territory, where significant resources are allegedly being deployed to tilt the scales in favour of Senator Sharafa Alli.

The complexity of the situation is further deepened by the Ladoja factor. Recent reports suggest that a visit by the Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Rasidi Ladoja, to the Presidency may have been leveraged to advocate for Alli’s candidacy.

The long-standing political bond between the monarch and the Senator dating back to Alli’s time as Secretary to the State Government remains a potent force in Ibadan politics.

Read also: 12 Reps defect to APC, ADC

There are also unresolved tensions from the 2023 elections, where Adelabu declined a coalition proposal to step down for Senator Teslim Folarin, continue to shadow current alignments.

For the Oyo APC, the stakes could not be higher. Critics of the alleged Adedeji-Alli alliance argue that the party risks prioritizing political convenience over administrative competence and electoral viability.

As Governor Seyi Makinde prepares his own succession plan, a fractured APC faces the grim prospect of another electoral defeat.

The emerging consensus among stakeholders is that the party must move beyond factional compromises and elite bargaining if it hopes to present a formidable challenge for the Agodi Government House in 2027.