Former Minister of Power, Adebayo Adelabu, has broken his silence after a 2022 video in which he allegedly urged Nigerians to reject the All Progressives Congress (APC) resurfaced on social media, insisting that his comments have been taken out of context.
Adelabu, who currently belongs to the APC, dismissed the viral report as false and misleading, accusing those circulating it of attempting to undermine his relationship with President Bola Tinubu and create division within the ruling party.
The controversy erupted after the old video resurfaced on Saturday, triggering questions about the former minister’s loyalty to the APC and the President.
However, Adelabu’s media office, in a statement issued on Sunday, explained that the remarks were made during an interview in 2022, when he was the governorship candidate of the Accord Party in Oyo State.
According to the statement, Adelabu was expressing his view that Nigerians should judge politicians by their credibility, character and individual records rather than blindly supporting political parties.
His media office insisted that the comments were not a call for Nigerians to reject the APC or oppose Tinubu’s presidency.
“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,” the statement said.
The office urged Nigerians to disregard what it described as a deliberate attempt to misrepresent the former minister’s position.
OYO APC PRIMARY DISPUTE FUELS SPECULATION
The controversy comes amid disagreement surrounding the APC’s governorship nomination process in Oyo State, where Adelabu reportedly raised concerns over the transparency of the exercise.
His media office said the former minister was dissatisfied with the alleged failure to transparently release the primary election results and the subsequent declaration of a preferred aspirant as the winner.
It maintained that his demand for transparency and internal democracy should not be interpreted as evidence of disloyalty to the party.
“His position has been consistent: loyalty does not preclude the demand for fairness, transparency and adherence to democratic principles,” the statement added.
The office also stressed that Adelabu had no intention of leaving the APC, insisting that his political ambition was not a do-or-die affair.
It described his relationship with Tinubu as longstanding and founded on mutual respect and trust, adding that the relationship remained cordial despite the controversies surrounding the Oyo APC nomination process.
“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,” the statement said.
ADELABU DEMANDS FULL VIDEO
In a direct challenge to those circulating the clip, Adelabu’s media office called for the release of the complete, unedited interview to enable Nigerians to understand the remarks in their original context.
It further claimed that Adelabu had not granted any media interview since the conclusion of the disputed APC governorship nomination process in Oyo State in which the alleged statement was made.
The office urged APC members, journalists and the public to verify information before sharing it, warning that misleading reports could create unnecessary divisions within the party.
It reaffirmed Adelabu’s commitment to the APC and support for its political objectives, urging the public to rely on statements issued by him or his authorised representatives.
The resurfaced video has placed renewed attention on Adelabu’s political journey, from his 2022 governorship bid under the Accord Party to his present alignment with the APC.
However, the former minister’s camp insists that his past comments should be understood within their original political context and not used to suggest that he has turned against Tinubu or the ruling party.
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