Adelabu: ‘Emi Lokan’, It’s My Turn To Become Oyo Governor

Bayo Adelabu, the Minister of Power, intends to contest the 2027 governorship election in Oyo State.

Speaking at an event, Adelabu said he had paid his dues and is confident it is his turn to govern the state.

“Emi lokan” is a Yoruba phrase that literally translates to “it’s my turn.” It gained popularity through presidential candidate Bola Tinubu during the lead-up to the 2023 general election.

“Truly, I have been on this journey for so long. I believe you don’t get a position immediately upon entering politics. I have paid my dues. I ran against Seyi (Makinde) in 2019 and again in 2023, by which time he was already in power,” he stated.

“In 2027, God has shown that it’s my turn. Emi lokan o, Adelabu lo kan. What’s mine belongs to all of us. I’m telling you there’s a lot of hard work ahead. All party members must be involved; one person cannot do it.”

Adelabu left as Deputy Governor of Operations at the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) on 15 July 2018 to pursue a governorship bid in 2019.

He became the All Progressives Congress (APC) gubernatorial candidate for the 2019 election but lost to Seyi Makinde, the incumbent governor of Oyo.

In 2022, after losing the APC primary to Teslim Folarin, a former senator, Adelabu defected to the Accord Party (AP) and contested the governorship office on the party’s platform following Ayodele Oyajide’s withdrawal from the race.

Once again, he lost the governorship election to Makinde.

President Tinubu nominated him as part of a 28-member ministerial list on 27 July 2023, and he was appointed Minister of Power on 16 August 2023.

Adelabu returned to the APC in 2023 after his election loss, emphasising that his return was not motivated by personal ambition but by a commitment to support the party that brought Tinubu to power.

“I returned not because of my ambition for the 2027 governorship or to take over the party, but because I believe this is a party that brought President Bola Tinubu to power, and we need to support him in delivering on his electoral promises,” he concluded.