If I were Bayo Adelabu — by Maroof Asudemade

In a party that has just concluded a fiercely contested primary, the greatest danger for Oyo APC is not the controversy surrounding the process but the possibility of lingering bitterness that tends to lead to defections, voter apathy, or anti-party activities.

My central argument is that Chief Bayo Adelabu should rise above personal disappointment, accept the party’s verdict, and publicly mobilize his supporters behind Senator Sarafadeen Alli. From a party management perspective, that is sound advice. History has shown that political parties often lose elections not because they lack popular candidates but because post-primary grievances are poorly managed.

Therefore, if I were advising Bayo Adelabu, I would recommend a response that balances loyalty to the party with dignity and respect for his supporters. He should neither appear bitter nor give the impression that he has surrendered his legitimate concerns. Rather, he should project himself as a statesman who places the party above self.

Therefore, if I were Chief Bayo Adelabu, FCA, FCIB, I would…

• Thank my supporters across the state for their loyalty and commitment during the primary process.
• Acknowledge that there were concerns and disagreements arising from the exercise, while emphasizing that such developments are not uncommon in democratic contests.
• State clearly that, having consulted with party leaders and in recognition of the supremacy of the APC, I accept the decision of the party regarding the nomination of Senator Sarafadeen Alli.
• Congratulate Senator Alli and pledge to work with him toward the collective objective of reclaiming Oyo State for the APC in 2027.
• Appeal to my supporters to remain calm, avoid inflammatory statements, and continue to work for the success of the party.
• Reaffirm my commitment to the APC, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, and the progressive cause.
• Leave the door open for future political opportunities by presenting myself as a loyal party man who understands that leadership sometimes requires sacrifice.

Politically, such a response would elevate Adelabu’s stature. Whether he contests again in the future, seeks another office, or remains a major stakeholder in Oyo APC, history tends to favour politicians who know when to fight and when to unite.

It’s wise for Chief Bayo Adelabu to remember that the way he feels aggrieved now was the same way Oyo APC members felt aggrieved when he was given the State’s ministerial slot that was supposed to be Oyo APC’s birthright, even as a member of the Accord Party then. Yet, the party and its members supported him all through his ministerial journey and actually defended him when he was being attacked for what the public perceived as his incompetence since the power situations did not improve.

The ultimate question before him is not whether he won or lost the primary. It is whether he wants to be remembered as the man who weakened the APC after the primary or the statesman who helped unite the party behind its candidate, Sarafadeen Abiodun Alli, ahead of 2027. In politics, that distinction often determines who ultimately wins the larger battle.

• Asudemade is a member of
  Oyo State APC from
  Ward 3, Constituency I, Ibadan South-West Local Government