Minister of Power, Adebayo Adelabu, has openly declared his ambition to contest the 2027 governorship election in Oyo State, boldly stating that it is now his turn to occupy the state’s top seat after years of political involvement and repeated attempts.
Adelabu, a former deputy governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria and prominent member of the All Progressives Congress (APC), made the declaration during a stakeholders’ engagement with party leaders in Ibadan. Speaking in Yoruba, he echoed President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s now-famous slogan “E mi lokan” (meaning “It’s my turn”), saying that after years of dedication and political investment, he is ready to lead the state.
“I have been on this journey for a while now,” Adelabu told party faithful. “I believe it’s not the day you enter politics that you begin to reap the rewards. I have now paid my dues. I contested against Seyi Makinde in 2019. In 2023, I contested against him again, this time as the sitting governor. But this 2027, God has shown that it’s my turn. It’s Adelabu’s time. Whatever belongs to Adelabu belongs to us all.”
Adelabu’s political journey in Oyo has been marked by persistence and shifting alliances. He first contested the governorship in 2019 under the APC but was defeated by Makinde of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). Ahead of the 2023 polls, he defected from the APC to the Accord Party, where he again ran unsuccessfully against Makinde. He later returned to the APC in 2023 following his appointment as Minister of Power by President Tinubu.
With the next election cycle approaching, Adelabu is once again positioning himself as the candidate to unseat the incumbent and reclaim Oyo State for the APC. He called on party stakeholders and supporters to unite behind his candidacy and embark on a vigorous grassroots campaign.
“I am ready to lead from the front,” he declared. “We will go from house to house, day and night, appealing to our people to work together so that we can bring back APC leadership to Oyo State and enjoy the dividends of good governance.”
Adelabu’s declaration sets the stage for what promises to be a heated political contest in Oyo State, where Governor Seyi Makinde, currently in his second term, is expected to leave office in 2027, creating an open field for new contenders.
Political observers say Adelabu’s renewed ambition, bolstered by his federal appointment and ties to President Tinubu, could significantly shape the dynamics of the 2027 race. However, whether his “it’s my turn” message will resonate with voters in Oyo remains to be seen.
