A leading governorship aspirant of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Oyo State, Chief Adebayo Adelabu, has distanced himself from the protest and destruction that occurred at the party’s state secretariat, describing allegations linking him to the incident as false and politically motivated.
In a statement issued on Thursday by his media office, Adelabu denied sponsoring or orchestrating the unrest, insisting that he had no connection whatsoever with the disturbances at the APC secretariat.
The statement, signed by Bolaji Tunji, said Adelabu was not in Oyo State at the time of the incident, noting that he was in Abuja attending to “important strategic engagements” unrelated to the development at the party office.
The former deputy governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria described attempts to associate him with the violence as “dishonest” and a deliberate effort to tarnish his reputation as a democrat and peace-loving politician.
“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 reaffirmed his commitment to democratic principles, stressing that the strength of the APC lies in unity, internal democracy and adherence to due process.
While acknowledging the constitutional right of party members and aspirants to express views on the mode of primaries, whether by consensus or direct primary, he maintained that such disagreements must be resolved through lawful and peaceful means.
“He strongly supports lawful and credible electoral processes as provided for under the Electoral Act and the constitution of our great party,” the statement added.
The APC chieftain further condemned violence, intimidation and destruction of property, insisting that his political philosophy is rooted in civility, decency and issue-based engagement.
He urged party members, supporters and the general public to disregard the allegations against him, describing them as the handiwork of desperate individuals seeking political advantage.
Adelabu also called on stakeholders within the party to exercise restraint and allow the leadership of the APC to address internal issues through established democratic channels.
“At this critical moment, unity, maturity, and respect for due process must prevail over chaos and unfounded accusations,” the statement concluded
