Adelabu did not ask Nigerians to reject APC, media office says viral report is false

Politics

ABUJA, Nigeria (NPA) — The media office of former Minister of Power, Chief Adebayo A. Adelabu, has dismissed as false a viral report alleging that he called on Nigerians to reject the All Progressives Congress (APC).

In a statement issued on Sunday and signed by Adelabu’s media office, the former minister described the report as misleading and malicious, accusing those circulating it of attempting to undermine his loyalty to the party and create tension between him, President Bola Tinubu and the APC leadership.

The statement, which was also republished by Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, urged the public to disregard the report.

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It said Adelabu had consistently demonstrated his commitment to the APC and loyalty to Tinubu throughout his political career.

Adelabu served as minister under the APC-led Federal Government before voluntarily leaving office to pursue his governorship ambition in Oyo State.

The statement acknowledged that the APC governorship nomination process in Oyo State was controversial, alleging that a preferred aspirant was imposed without the transparent release of the primary election results.

It maintained, however, that Adelabu had repeatedly stated that he had no intention of leaving the APC and that his political ambition was not a do-or-die affair.

“His position has been consistent: loyalty does not preclude the demand for fairness, transparency and adherence to democratic principles,” the statement said.

According to the media office, Adelabu questioned the practice of declaring a winner without publishing election results and subsequently setting up a reconciliation committee to address grievances among party stakeholders.

It argued that the transparency and accountability expected of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) should also apply to political parties’ internal electoral processes.

The statement described attempts to portray Adelabu’s demand for internal democracy as a call to reject the APC as mischievous.

The media office said the video circulating online was an excerpt from an interview Adelabu granted in 2022 when he was the governorship candidate of the Accord Party in Oyo State.

According to the statement, Adelabu had expressed the view that political parties had disappointed Nigerians and urged voters to pay greater attention to the credibility and character of individual candidates.

It said the comments reflected the political circumstances at the time and were not intended as a call to reject the APC or oppose Tinubu’s presidency.

The statement added that Adelabu had supported Tinubu’s presidential ambition despite contesting under a different political platform in Oyo State.

“We challenge those circulating the video to publish the full interview, unedited, rather than selectively extracting statements and presenting them out of context to advance a malicious political narrative,” it said.

The media office further claimed that Adelabu had not granted any media interview making the alleged statement since the conclusion of the controversial APC governorship nomination process in Oyo State.

The statement described the relationship between Adelabu and Tinubu as longstanding and based on mutual respect, trust and affection, adding that it remained cordial.

It rejected suggestions that Adelabu had renounced his loyalty to the President or called on Nigerians to reject the APC, challenging those making the allegation to provide verifiable evidence.

The media office urged APC members, the public and the media to verify information before sharing it and avoid spreading claims that could create divisions within the party.

It maintained that Adelabu remained committed to the APC and supportive of its broader political objectives, insisting that his demand for fairness and internal democracy should not be interpreted as disloyalty.

The statement advised the public to disregard the report and rely on statements issued by Adelabu or his authorised representatives.