The immediate past Minister of Power, Chief Adebayo Adelabu, has denied asking Nigerians to reject the All Progressives Congress (APC), describing a viral report attributing the statement to him as false and misleading.
In a statement issued in response to a report circulating on social media, which allegedly quoted Adelabu as urging Nigerians to reject the ruling party, he described the report as an attempt to discredit him, question his loyalty to the APC and create friction between him, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the party’s leadership.
He clarified that the controversy surrounding the viral video footage stemmed from an excerpt of an interview Adelabu granted in 2022, when he was the governorship candidate of the Accord Party in Oyo State.
According to the statement, the former minister has consistently maintained that he has no intention of leaving the APC and that his political ambition is not a do-or-die affair.
“Our attention has been drawn to a false report circulating on social media, alleging that Chief Adebayo A. Adelabu, OFR, FCA, FCIB, the immediate past Minister of Power, called on Nigerians to reject the All Progressives Congress (APC).
“This report is entirely false, misleading and maliciously intended to discredit Chief Adelabu, undermine his loyalty to the APC and, perhaps, create unnecessary friction between him, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the leadership of the party. We therefore urge the public to disregard the fabricated narrative.
“Anyone who knows Chief Adelabu, his political antecedents and his relationship with the President would find it difficult to believe such an allegation without compelling evidence. Throughout his political journey, Adelabu has consistently demonstrated his commitment to the APC and his loyalty to President Tinubu.
“Adelabu served under the APC-led Federal Government as Minister of Power, where he pursued significant reforms aimed at repositioning the power sector. The gains of these efforts are gradually becoming evident. He subsequently left public office voluntarily to pursue his governorship ambition in Oyo State.
“Indeed, Adelabu has challenged the logic of declaring a candidate the winner of an election without releasing the results and subsequently setting up a reconciliation committee to pacify aggrieved stakeholders. His point is straightforward: whatever standards of transparency, accountability and democratic conduct Nigerians expect from the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) must equally guide the internal electoral processes of political parties.
“It is therefore mischievous to twist his demand for internal democracy into a call for Nigerians to reject the APC.
“More importantly, the relationship between Chief Adelabu and President Tinubu transcends partisan politics. It is a longstanding relationship founded on mutual respect, trust and affection, which Adelabu has openly described in father-and-son terms. That relationship remains cordial, and no amount of fabricated reports, political blackmail or deliberate misrepresentation can destroy it.
“No genuine son would deliberately work against the interests of a father and benefactor to whom he remains grateful.
