The dispute over the African Democratic Congress (ADC) governorship ticket in Oyo State has intensified, with Dr Gbemileke Alagbe and his running mate, Chief Niyi Aborisade, maintaining that the party’s May 22, 2026 primary produced the valid candidate for the 2027 election.
The duo said the outcome of the primary, which they identified as the properly conducted exercise under the party’s structure, established Alagbe as the winner.
Their position comes as the dispute over the ADC ticket remains before the Federal High Court in Ibadan, with proceedings adjourned until September 30, 2026.
Aborisade, who contested the May 22 primary, said he congratulated Alagbe after the election because the result announced at the end of the exercise showed that Alagbe had won.
He said he subsequently rejected the idea of another governorship primary after being contacted by Taofeek Adegboyega Adegoke, who, according to him, indicated plans to organise another election.
The development eventually produced a different result and deepened the dispute over the party’s governorship ticket.
Alagbe said the controversy centred on the process used to organise the May 22 primary, arguing that the party’s constitutional structure assigned responsibility for the exercise to the appropriate national organising organ.
He said the National Organising Secretary sent a representative to supervise the election, which was conducted across the state before the results were collated.
Alagbe had previously said the exercise took place across 351 wards, with officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission present, while the final results were collated at the University of Ibadan.
Reports published after the primary listed Alagbe as the winner with 15,107 votes, followed by Aborisade with 4,307 votes and Adegoke with 987 votes.
Alagbe also alleged that the process was subsequently altered after the primary, accusing ADC National Secretary, Rauf Aregbesola, of backing a different arrangement that led to Adegoke's emergence and the displacement of his name.
He maintained that he neither withdrew from the contest nor authorised the substitution of his name.
The dispute escalated after the Independent National Electoral Commission published a different name as the ADC governorship candidate for Oyo State.
Alagbe challenged the development in court, seeking the restoration of his candidacy.
Aborisade, who later became Alagbe’s running mate, said the dispute would be resolved through the judicial process and urged supporters to remain calm.
The pair said they would continue to pursue the matter through lawful means while preparing to present their political programme to voters ahead of the 2027 governorship election.
Discussion0