Former power minister Adebayo Adelabu says President Bola Tinubu will prefer a consensus governorship candidate in the 2027 election in Oyo state.

“President Tinubu has not endorsed any consensus candidate, and the gubernatorial contest is open to whoever is interested,” Mr Adelabu said while addressing supporters in Ibadan on Thursday. “Asiwaju is the president of Nigeria, overseeing 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory. He is the president of 774 local governments. He is the president of almost 3,000 wards. So, he will not endorse or have a special interest in anyone.”

Mr Adelabu stated that the president only advised party members to reach a consensus or conduct a direct primary election as the case may demand.

“He (Tinubu) said we should all go and meet as a party, reach consensus among ourselves as a party with critical stakeholders on the ground, and if it’s not possible for us to reach consensus, then we go for a direct primary,” the ex-minister said.

Regarding the claim that the Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Rashidi Ladoja, have endorsed a governorship aspirant, Mr Adelabu said, “On Olubadan endorsing an aspirant, I take the report as a rumour, and I don’t believe in it. Olubadan is the father of all, irrespective of status or political affiliations.”

Mr Adelabu said he was running for governor not to enrich himself and party members.