Minister of Power, Adebayo Adelabu, on Tuesday  dismissed speculations that the All Progressives Congress (APC) has adopted a consensus gubernatorial candidate for Oyo State ahead of the 2027 elections.

Adelabu’s position follows reports suggesting that party leaders had settled for preferred candidates in Oyo, Lagos and Ogun states as part of early preparations for the next general elections.

Reacting to the development, Adelabu, who is a governorship aspirant in Oyo State, maintained that no such decision has been taken by the party. He spoke through his Special Adviser on Strategic Communication and Media Relations, Bolaji Tunji.

“At a time like this, especially when the contest is drawing closer, there will be speculation. That is normal in politics. My principal has not withdrawn from the race. People will always try to push narratives to gain relevance or create confusion,” Tunji said.

He added that the APC, as a progressive party, operates within a structured system guided by due process and hierarchy, stressing that any eventual decision would follow established procedures.

Despite Adelabu’s position, multiple party sources indicated that Senator Sharafadeen Alli has emerged as a leading figure in ongoing consultations within the party.

According to insiders, Alli’s perceived acceptability across factions has placed him at the centre of political calculations in the state. His experience as former Secretary to the State Government and current senator is said to have strengthened his profile among stakeholders.

Sources also linked the development to a high-level meeting reportedly held in Lagos involving President Bola Tinubu, Vice President Kashim Shettima and other South-West APC leaders, where discussions on consensus arrangements for key states were said to have taken place.

Within Oyo APC circles, Alli is widely viewed as a unifying figure capable of bridging longstanding internal divisions. A party source noted that “he appears to be the only aspirant acceptable to most factions,” a factor considered crucial to improving the party’s electoral prospects.

Other aspirants, including Teslim Folarin, Abdulfatai Buhari and Adelabu, are, however, still seen as influential within the party.

There are also indications that negotiations are ongoing to accommodate various interests and maintain party cohesion. One of the options being considered is the possible allocation of the Oyo South senatorial ticket to Remi Oseni, a grassroots politician with growing support.

Sources further disclosed that discussions around a potential one-term arrangement for a consensus candidate are being explored as part of efforts to balance zoning and power rotation ahead of 2031.

The consensus approach, it was gathered, is not limited to Oyo State. In Lagos, stakeholders are said to be favouring Deputy Governor Obafemi Hamzat, while in Ogun State, Senator Olamilekan Adeola has reportedly emerged as a preferred option.

Meanwhile, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has fixed February 6, 2027, for the governorship elections, with party primaries expected to hold between April and May 2026.

Oyo APC stakeholders are expected to meet in Abuja in the coming days to continue consultations and possibly outline modalities for candidate selection.