By Mary Izuaka

 

Former Minister of Power, Adebayo Adelabu, has denied a viral report alleging he called on Nigerians to reject the All Progressives Congress (APC), calling it false, malicious, and mischievous.

In a statement from his media office on Sunday, Mr Adelabu said a video circulating on social media claimed he urged Nigerians to reject the ruling party.

“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,” the statement said.

The former minister said anyone familiar with his political antecedents and relationship with the president would find it difficult to believe the allegation without compelling evidence, noting that he has consistently demonstrated commitment to the APC and loyalty to President Tinubu.

Mr Adelabu served under the APC-led federal government as Minister of Power, where he pursued significant reforms aimed at repositioning the power sector. He subsequently left public office voluntarily to pursue his governorship ambition in Oyo State.

Unfortunately, Mr Adelabu said the APC governorship nomination process in Oyo State was marred by controversies, including alleged imposition of a preferred aspirant without transparent release of primary election results. Despite his grievances, he said he has repeatedly declared that he has no intention of leaving the APC and that his ambition is 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.

It added that Mr Adelabu had challenged the logic of declaring a candidate winner without releasing results and subsequently setting up a reconciliation committee to pacify aggrieved stakeholders, insisting that standards of transparency expected from the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) must also guide internal party processes.

“It is therefore mischievous to twist his demand for internal democracy into a call for Nigerians to reject the APC,” it said.

The statement said the relationship between Mr Adelabu and President Tinubu transcends partisan politics and is founded on mutual respect, trust and affection, which he has described in father-and-son terms.

“No genuine son would deliberately work against the interests of a father and benefactor to whom he remains grateful. Adelabu has neither renounced his loyalty to the President nor called on Nigerians to reject the APC. Those peddling such claims should produce verifiable evidence of the alleged statement rather than seek to manufacture controversy through falsehood.’

Viral video excerpt from 2022 interview

For clarification, the media office said the video in circulation is an excerpt from an interview Mr Adelabu granted in 2022 when he was the governorship candidate of the Accord Party in Oyo State, where he expressed the view that political parties had disappointed Nigerians and that voters should pay attention to individual credibility and character.

“That position was made in the context of the 2022 political environment and was consistent with his decision at the time to support the presidential ambition of Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, notwithstanding his candidacy under a different political platform. It was never a call to reject the APC or oppose Tinubu’s presidency,” it said.

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The office challenged those circulating the video to publish the full, unedited interview rather than selectively extracting statements out of context.

It added that since the conclusion of the controversial APC governorship nomination process in Oyo State, Mr Adelabu has not granted any media interview making the alleged statement.

“We are therefore concerned about the deliberate attempt to attribute words to him that he neither said nor authorised.

“We urge members of the public, APC faithful and the media to exercise caution, verify information before sharing it, and refuse to become instruments in the hands of those seeking to sow discord between Chief Adelabu, President Tinubu and the APC leadership.

“Chief Adelabu remains committed to the APC, loyal to Mr President and supportive of the party’s broader political objectives. His call for fairness and internal democracy should not be misconstrued as disloyalty,” the statement said.