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Akinwande Soji-Ojo
The All Progressives Congress (APC) has faulted the claims of ACCORD governorship candidate in Oyo State, Chief Adebayo Adelabu, over his claims that he was robbed of the party’s governorship ticket because of his closeness to its presidential candidate, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu.
While featuring on a radio programme, ‘Political Circuit,’ last Saturday, Adelabu had alleged that he was robbed of the party’s ticket because of his relationship with the Tinubu.
Adelabu also said five senators, including the President of the Senate, Sen. Ahmed Lawan; the National Chairman of APC, Sen. Abdullahi Adamu; the National Secretary, Sen. lyiola Omisore; the. Chairman of Oyo APC governorship primary, Sen. Tokunbo Afikuyomi; and the APC governorship candidate in Oyo State, Sen. Teslim Folarin, conspired to deny him the governorship ticket.
But a statement signed on Monday evening by the party’s Publicicity Secretary, Felix Muoka, said Adelabu’s fate was decided by the delegates and not the party or anyone else.
“For a man who lost his bid for the gubernatorial ticket of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Oyo State, Chief Adebayo Adelabu’s recent emotive outburst is understandable, but totally misled.
“For the record, Chief Adelabu, who was the flag bearer of the party in 2019 general election, participated in the May 2022 primary election of the party and lost to Sen. Teslim Folarin. His fate was decided by delegates of the party and by no one else.
“As a former flagbearer of the party, we expected him to explore and exhaust internal remedial mechanisms of the party or seek legal redress regarding any dissatisfaction he may have had with the primary election.
“Having decamped to another political party, rather than concentrate on his lackluster gubernatorial project, Chief Adelabu has busied himself with making wild and baseless allegations against some national leaders and chieftains of the APC.
“While wishing Adelabu well in his new political voyage, we advise that he desists from vilifying and maligning respected chieftains and national officers of our great party,” Muoka said.