The governorship aspirant of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and former Minister of Power, Adebayo Adelabu, has distanced himself from the defection of his former aide, Ajiboye Akande, and others who have moved from the APC to the Allied Peoples Movement (APM).
Ajiboye, leading the Boye Nation in collaboration with the JAF Movement, organised a Mega Concert on Monday to unveil Governor Seyi Makinde and Mr. Abimbola Adekanmbi as the presidential and governorship candidates of the APM in Ibadan.
In a statement released by his media office in Ibadan, Adelabu clarified that Akande is no longer his Personal Assistant and has no official, political, or representational relationship with him.
He explained that their working relationship ended due to irreconcilable differences in their political alignments.
Adelabu emphasized that he has parted ways with Akande because Akande has chosen to pursue a different political path.
The former minister said, “I remain a member of APC and has no intention of leaving the party, my disagreement with aspects of the Oyo governorship nomination process is about the process and the need for transparency and legitimacy, and not an excuse to abandon the party.
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“I will not betray President Bola Tinubu, whom I regard as my political mentor and benefactor, or abandon the party that provided me the opportunity to serve. So, I am using this period to distance myself from yesterday’s defection of my former aide, Akande from APC to the APM, during a rally held in Ibadan.”
He stressed further that his support for the President is based not merely on personal loyalty, but also on his belief in due process and the legitimacy of the President’s emergence through a properly conducted and documented primary process.
Adelabu added that all he has been clamouring for is principle of transparency, documentation and legitimacy to be applied to the Oyo governorship primary elections.
“Let the results of the exercise be properly released, supported by the relevant signed documents and other verifiable evidence. That, in my view, is the proper foundation for acceptance and collective support.
“My governorship ambition has never been a do-or-die affair. My interest has always been about the opportunity to serve Oyo.
“Besides, i neither idle nor dependent on political office for his livelihood. Since leaving public office, i have remained fully engaged in my real estate, hospitality, farming and financial securities businesses. I therefore have no need to jump from one political party to another simply to remain relevant,” he added.
The former minister insisted that he remained firmly in the APC, and has neither defected nor authorised anyone to defect on his behalf, noting that “political activities of Akande are his personal decision and have no connection whatsoever with him.”
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