Chance Doesn’t Win Elections Twice – Oyo PDP Replies Adelabu ~Says Performance, Not Noise, Defines Leadership

Ibadan, 27/12/2025.

The Oyo State PDP Media Team has noted with total amusement the statement credited to the incompetent Minister of Power, Oloye Adebayo Adelabu, during a political gathering in Ibadan. While every citizen is entitled to freedom of expression, it is important to separate rhetoric from records and ambitions from accountability. It’s noteworthy that Governor Seyi Makinde and the PDP are not responsible for Oloye Adelabu’s failure as a politician. In 2019, despite being handed the entire structure of the APC in Oyo State on a platter of gold, he failed at the polls. Less than two years later, he equally lost control of the same structure, validating Governor Makinde’s earlier assertion that Oloye Adelabu lacked the mental and physical capacity to organise and sustain the APC in Oyo State.

As the Minister of Power,
Oloye Adelabu has also failed. Under his watch, Nigeria has experienced persistent power instability, repeated national grid collapses and a controversial electricity tariff regime which has imposed heavier financial burdens on Nigerians without corresponding improvement in service delivery. At a time when Nigerians expect focused leadership in the power sector, the failed Minister appears more invested in political theatrics than in addressing the crisis bedevilling the power sector.

Chief Adelabu’s attempt at diminishing the achievements and leadership of Governor Seyi Makinde by describing his rise as “a product of chance” reflects the arrogance and disdain for genuine wealth creation, growth and hard work. Chance does not win elections twice, nor does it make $1m at 29. It instead speaks of resilience, hard work, intentionality, excellence and persistence, major attributes Oloye Adelabu clearly lacks. Chance also does not withstand years of public scrutiny. Governor Seyi Makinde earned his mandate through competitive elections and secured re-election based on verifiable performance across infrastructure, workers’ welfare, institutional reforms and fiscal discipline. By contrast, Oloye Adelabu has never earned an executive mandate through the people, despite repeated attempts backed by immense resources.

“It is laughable reading from someone who has never held an elected position and run a successful business in his life dismissing the rise of an accomplished businessman and a politician as a product of circumstance rather than grace. Oyo State PDP Media Team commiserated with the failed Minister of Power, under whom there has been no significant success recorded by his ministry. Oloye Adelabu should let go of his arrogance and learn how it is done from Governor Seyi Makinde. We demand that the failed Minister of Power should resign from his position to face his gubernatorial ambition, as the ministry seems lacking, occasioned by his glaring incompetence and the distraction of his gubernatorial ambition.”

The Oyo State PDP Media Team noted that the story of Governor Makinde’s rise is a public document and this has shown that it is more of competence than accident, seeing how he made his $1m at a time when Oloye Adelabu was still being spoon-fed, will always remain a motivation to those who are still trying to find their feet that if Makinde could do it, they too can. Oyo State PDP Media would like to ask Oloye Adelabu if his story is worth emulating by anyone.

The Oyo State PDP Media Team urged Oloye Adelabu to see Governor Makinde as his mentor and boss, as both of them have distinguished themselves in various capacities they have been entrusted with, and the people of Oyo State and Nigeria send prayers to Governor Makinde, while curses are sent the way of the Minister.

The media wing of the Party reiterates that Governor Seyi Makinde is not in competition with Oloye Adelabu, as the thought of it irks a day-old baby, so he should stop comparing his financial worth with Governor Makinde, who started from ground zero and has never lived on government money before his sojourn into politics. He said Governor Makinde cannot measure up to him financially, academically and administratively. Of course, how could the Governor measure up with an incompetent administrator and a failed politician who has failed in his role as the Minister of Power? For someone who was spoon-fed all his life by benefactors and Nigerian money as a deputy governor of the CBN, benefactors whom he has also betrayed, Oloye lacks the moral right to compare himself with Governor Makinde in any sense. Governance is not a contest of personal attacks but a responsibility to deliver measurable outcomes for the people. While Adelabu remains preoccupied with comparisons and rhetoric, Governor Makinde remains focused on governance and service to the people of Oyo State

The PDP demanded that if the APC was not dead and in the morgue, why did the President and the national leader of the APC ask Governor Makinde of the PDP to organise the Oyo State APC for him even after Oloye Adelabu had become a minister? Oyo PDP Media Team questioned.

History further underscores this reality, following the demise of the late Senator Abiola Ajimobi, the then leader of the APC in Oyo State, Oloye Adelabu was expected to unify and also lead the Party as its last governorship candidate, instead, internal division deepened, leading to his exit and eventual losses of the APC and Accord Party he defected to.

” Even in subsequent elections, the same pattern of disintegration followed. Notably, the only time Oloye Adelabu attempted a leadership position in the APC was during the Ibadan North Federal Constituency by-election, which resulted in the Party losing all 12 wards under his watch.

“Beyond electoral outcomes, Oloye Adelabu’s public conduct has consistently raised serious concerns about his political maturity and emotional intelligence. Leadership requires tolerance, respect for supporters and consensus qualities that cannot be replaced by self-praise or personal attacks.

Defection and private meetings, no matter how dramatised, do not equate to public acceptance. In Oyo State, elections are decided by performance, not press statements. The electorate has repeatedly demonstrated its ability to distinguish between governance rooted in service delivery and politics driven by entitlement.

The people of Oyo State are watching and taking notes.

Signed:
Oyo State PDP Media Team