The camp of former Minister of Power and All Progressives Congress, APC, governorship aspirant in Oyo State, Chief Adebayo Adelabu, has dismissed reports suggesting that one of his key aides, Mr. Ajiboye Akande, has defected to the Allied Peoples Movement, APM, describing the claims as false and misleading.
In a statement signed by Adelabu’s Media Assistant, Comrade Femi Awogboro, the former Minister’s camp said recent visits by some former members of the APC, who had joined the APM, to Akande should not be interpreted as a political defection.
The statement stressed that the visitors have maintained longstanding personal relationships with Akande, dating back to their time together in the APC and before their recent political realignment.
The statement added that Akande is still a loyal member of the APC and has neither joined the APM nor indicated any intention to leave the ruling party.
Awogboro noted that Adelabu, who served as Minister of Power under the APC-led Federal Government and was the party’s governorship candidate in Oyo State in 2019, remains loyal to the party and President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, who he described as his political mentor.
The statement further maintained that Adelabu’s demand for transparency, fairness and due process within the APC should not be misconstrued as disloyalty or a sign of impending defection.