The campaign organisation of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) governorship candidate in Oyo State, Oloye Adegboyega Taofeek Adegoke, has dismissed Dr. Gbemileke Alagbe’s claim to the party’s 2027 governorship ticket, describing it as “a political wish, not an established electoral reality.”
In a statement signed by the Director-General to the gubernatorial candidate, Adetayo Kesa, Esq., the campaign said its attention had been drawn to a recent publication in which Alagbe claimed to remain the ADC governorship candidate and unveiled Niyi Aborisade as his purported running mate.
The campaign described the claim as “false and misleading,” insisting that Adegoke emerged as the ADC governorship candidate at the party’s primary election with 16,051 votes.
According to the statement, Bisi Ilaka polled 11,415 votes, while Alagbe recorded 241 votes, Azeez Adeduntan 155 votes and Niyi Aborisade 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 campaign said.
The Adegoke Campaign challenged Alagbe to produce the alleged Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) True Certified Copy (TCC) and other documents reportedly relied upon to support his claim.
“Our response is simple and unequivocal: let him produce the documents,” the statement declared.
It added that if such a TCC genuinely exists and contains information capable of altering the outcome of the primary election, it should be released in full for independent verification, including scrutiny of its source, date, issuing authority, contents and legal effect.
The campaign further warned that merely invoking the phrase “INEC True Certified Copy” could not establish the validity of a political claim.
“Official documents are capable of authentication, examination and verification,” it said.
The campaign maintained that until the purported document was produced and its authenticity and legal significance established by the appropriate authorities, Alagbe’s claim should be regarded as an assertion without demonstrated evidential foundation.
It also rejected the unveiling of a purported running mate, arguing that such a declaration could not, by itself, confer a valid governorship ticket.
“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,” the statement said.
The Adegoke Campaign expressed concern that continued competing claims could create confusion among ADC members, supporters and the general public ahead of the 2027 election.
It, however, said Alagbe remained entitled to challenge the conduct or outcome of the primary through appropriate party, electoral and judicial channels.
“The media cannot replace the courts, and public declarations cannot replace documentary evidence and due process,” the campaign stated.
The campaign urged ADC members, Adegoke supporters and the people of Oyo State to remain calm and discerning, stressing that the identity of a political party’s candidate should be 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,” it declared.
The campaign concluded with a direct challenge to Alagbe:
“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.”
It called on all stakeholders to allow facts, authentic documents and due process to prevail as Oyo State prepares for the 2027 governorship 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
