ADC 2027: Determining the True Candidate Should be the Prerogative of Competent Authorities – Adegoke Campaign

The attention of the Director-General to the gubernatorial candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) in Oyo State, Oloye Adegboyega Taofeek Adegoke, Adetayo Kesa, Esq., has been drawn to a recent publication in which Dr. Gbemileke Alagbe claimed to remain the ADC governorship candidate for the 2027 Oyo State governorship election and proceeded to unveil Niyi Aborisade as his purported running mate.

We wish to state categorically that the claim is false, misleading and nothing more than a political wish being presented as an established reality.

Oloye Adegboyega Taofeek Adegoke emerged as the ADC governorship candidate from the party’s primary election with 16,051 votes, according to results publicly reported by multiple media organisations.

The same reports recorded Bisi Ilaka with 11,415 votes, Gbemileke Alagbe with 241 votes, Azeez Adeduntan with 155 votes and Niyi Aborisade with 67 votes.

It is, therefore, curious that months after the conduct and announcement of the primary, Dr. Alagbe would continue to present himself as the party’s candidate and proceed to announce a running mate as though the primary election never took place.

The mere repetition of a claim does not make it true, just as a media declaration cannot confer a party nomination where the established electoral process does not support such a claim.

Dr. Alagbe is reported to have relied upon an alleged Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) True Certified Copy (TCC) and other documents which he claims support his position.

Our response is simple and unequivocal: let him produce the documents.

If such a TCC genuinely exists and contains information capable of overturning the result of the primary election, the document should be made available in full for independent verification. Its source, date, issuing authority, contents and legal effect should be subjected to appropriate scrutiny by the relevant authorities.

It is not enough to invoke the expression “INEC True Certified Copy” as a political instrument or rhetorical device. Official documents are capable of authentication, examination and verification.

Until the purported document is produced and its authenticity and legal significance established by the competent authorities, the public should treat the claim for what it presently appears to be: an assertion without demonstrated evidential foundation.

The Adegoke Campaign considers the continued presentation of Dr. Alagbe as the ADC governorship candidate to be an attempt to manufacture a political reality through media publicity rather than through the recognised democratic and legal process.

The unilateral unveiling of a purported running mate does not confer a governorship ticket, just as a press conference cannot substitute for a valid party nomination.

We are particularly concerned about the possibility that such claims could deliberately create confusion among ADC members, supporters and the general public.

If the intention is to knowingly mislead the electorate or manufacture uncertainty around the identity of the party’s candidate, then such conduct could have serious legal and political implications and may point to an intent to deceive or manipulate the democratic process.

We will not, however, be distracted from defending the mandate entrusted to our candidate through lawful means.

Dr. Alagbe is entitled to challenge any aspect of the primary election that he believes was improperly conducted. However, such a challenge should be pursued through the appropriate internal party mechanisms, electoral procedures and judicial channels.

The media cannot replace the courts, and public declarations cannot replace documentary evidence and due process.

We therefore call on members of the ADC, supporters of Oloye Adegboyega Taofeek Adegoke and the good people of Oyo State to remain calm and discerning and to disregard attempts to create confusion through unverified claims.

The identity of a political party’s candidate is not determined by who makes the loudest declaration or who receives the most publicity. It is determined by the applicable electoral process, authentic records and the law.

For the avoidance of doubt, Oloye Adegboyega Taofeek Adegoke remains our recognised gubernatorial candidate, and we remain firmly committed to defending his mandate through every lawful and legitimate avenue available to us.

We have no objection to any individual exercising his or her lawful rights, but we will strongly resist any attempt to substitute propaganda, wishful thinking or unverifiable claims for established facts.

The issue before us is, therefore, very simple:

Produce the alleged documents. Authenticate them. Allow the competent authorities to determine their meaning and legal effect.

Until that is done, Dr. Alagbe’s claim remains what it appears to be — a mere political wish, not an established electoral reality.

We urge all stakeholders to allow facts, authentic documents and due process to prevail. The people of Oyo State deserve clarity, honesty and transparency as they prepare for the 2027 election.

Facts, not propaganda.

Documents, not declarations.

Due process, not political wishful thinking.

Signed:

Adetayo Kesa, Esq.

Director-General to the Gubernatorial Candidate

Oloye Adegboyega Taofeek Adegoke

African Democratic Congress (ADC), Oyo State