Tension is brewing in the Oyo State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) following accusations that Minister of Power, Adebayo Adelabu, is attempting to impose his preferred candidate ahead of Sunday’s bye-election primary in Ibadan North.
Party insiders allege that Adelabu is backing Wale Murphy, a former Accord Party member who recently rejoined the APC, and is working with the party’s Delegate Congress Committee to push him forward through a pre-arranged process.
The controversy escalated after the initial plan to use a direct primary system—agreed upon by party leaders and aspirants—was scrapped and replaced by an indirect primary. Many believe this change was made to favour Murphy, sparking accusations of bias and backdoor politics.
Reports claim that critical meetings were held at a hotel in Ibadan, allegedly under Adelabu’s control, where a delegate list was finalised to secure Murphy’s nomination. The official delegate congress was cancelled on Saturday, and stakeholders were informed that the new list would be used for the primary instead.
“This is a clear abuse of process,” one party leader said. “It’s an attempt to sideline loyal party members and handpick a candidate.”
The development has angered many APC members and aspirants, who now fear the imposed process could damage party unity and affect its chances in the bye-election.
Calls are mounting for President Bola Tinubu and the APC National Secretariat to intervene and ensure a fair process. Stakeholders say they want a level playing field—not what they describe as a “coronation from a hotel room.”
