Former Minister of Power Adebayo Adelabu has dismissed reports claiming he is planning to defect from the All Progressives Congress (APC) to the Allied People’s Movement (APM), describing the speculation as false and baseless.
Adelabu made the clarification in a statement issued on Friday by his media aide, Femi Awogboro, in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital.
The statement was in response to reports alleging that Adelabu’s personal assistant, Ajiboye Akande, had met with APM members to facilitate the former minister’s defection ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Rejecting the claims, Adelabu said neither he nor his aide had any intention of leaving the APC.
“He remains a committed member of the APC and continues to hold the President and National Leader of the party, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, in the highest regard as his political mentor,” the statement said.
It added that Adelabu remained committed to the ruling party and respected its leadership.
“Chief Adelabu believes in the party, respects its leadership, and remains committed to the democratic process. Given his well-known decency and integrity in politics, he is always prepared to respect the legitimate decisions of the party’s national leadership,” the statement read.
The former minister urged the public to ignore the reports, describing them as an attempt to mislead the public and create unnecessary confusion.
“Consequently, the public is urged to disregard the false narrative linking Mr Ajiboye Akande or Chief Adebayo Adelabu to any impending defection to the APM. The rumour is baseless, mischievous and clearly intended to create confusion where none exists,” the statement added.
Adelabu was among the aspirants who contested the APC governorship primary in Oyo State but lost to Senator Sharafadeen Ali, who emerged as the party’s candidate for the 2027 governorship election.
His denial comes amid growing political realignments and speculation ahead of the 2027 general elections.
