A leading governorship aspirant of the All Progressives Congress in Oyo State, Adebayo Adelabu, has distanced himself from the protest and destruction that reportedly occurred at the party’s state secretariat.
In a statement issued on his behalf by his media adviser Bolaji Tunji on Thursday, Adelabu described allegations linking him to the incident as false, malicious and politically motivated.
The statement said the former Minister was not in Oyo State at the time of the incident, noting that he was in Abuja attending to strategic engagements unrelated to activities at the party secretariat.
According to the statement, attempts to associate Adelabu with the protest were deliberate efforts aimed at tarnishing his reputation as a disciplined democrat and peace-loving statesman.
“Chief Adebayo Adelabu has absolutely no connection whatsoever with the protest, disturbances, or any form of violence that took place at the party office,” the statement read.
Adelabu reiterated his commitment to the unity of the APC, internal democracy and adherence to due process, stressing that democratic disagreements within the party should be resolved through lawful engagement and dialogue rather than violence or intimidation.
The statement acknowledged that party members and aspirants have constitutional rights to express their opinions regarding the mode of party primaries, whether through consensus or direct primary, but insisted such positions must be pursued peacefully.
It further described Adelabu as a respected technocrat whose political philosophy is rooted in civility, decency and issue-based politics, adding that he would never sponsor acts of violence or thuggery to advance political ambition.
The media office therefore urged party members, supporters and the public to disregard the allegations, describing them as the handiwork of desperate individuals seeking political advantage.
Adelabu also called on stakeholders within the APC to exercise restraint and allow the party leadership to handle internal matters through established democratic channels.
He maintained that unity, maturity and respect for due process must prevail in resolving issues within the party.
