Oyo guber: APC members dismiss defection rumour, reaffirm support for party

Scores of members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ibadan South-East Local Government Area of Oyo State have dismissed reports that they were planning to defect to the Allied Peoples Movement (APM), reaffirming their commitment to the party ahead of the 2027 general elections.

The APC members, who visited the party’s state secretariat in Oke-Ado, Ibadan, on Friday, urged the public to disregard what they described as reports circulating on social media suggesting that members of the Adelabu Political Group had concluded plans to join the APM.

The group said the reports were false, noting that Chief Bayo Adelabu had publicly stated that he remained a member of the APC.

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Leader of the delegation, Mr Yusuf Bankole, said the group had no plan to leave the APC or join any other political party.

Bankole said, “Members of the general public should ignore fake news about all of us on the Adelabu Political Group joining APM. The rumour is not only false, but also offensive, ill-motivated, and condemnable.

“We, the supporters of Chief Bayo Adelabu in Ibadan South-East Local Government Area, remain rock solid in our great Party (APC). We have no cause to defect to APM or any other political party for that matter.

“We got the blessing of most of our leaders, such as Chief Wasiu Ajimobi and Hon. Kayode Fagunwa, to visit the State Secretariat today with a view to meeting the leadership of the Party and state our position, since some unscrupulous elements have been spreading unfounded rumours regarding our status in the APC.

“As a matter of fact, we are not considering any move away from our great Party (APC). We shall work assiduously with other party members to ensure victory for all the candidates of our Party in the next year polls.”

Responding to the delegation, the Oyo State APC chairman, Chief Moses Adeyemo, expressed delight over the decision of the group to visit the party secretariat and clarify its position.

Adeyemo said the party’s attention had shifted from the primaries to reconciliation and rebuilding ahead of the 2027 elections.

He urged party members to promote peace and unity, saying the APC would intensify efforts to take its campaign messages to voters across the state.

According to him, the party remained focused on winning the 2027 elections at all levels.

The delegation was led by Chief Lukman Ayantola, Alhaji Rasheed Agarawu, Catechist John Taiwo Ige, Alhaji Mojeed Agbaje, Mr Sunmbo Oladiti, Mrs Adeniyi Taiwo, Alhaji Ayodele Oseni and Alfa Meta.

Those who received the delegation on behalf of the Oyo APC Executive Committee included Hon. Fatai Adesina, Barrister Sunday Aborisade, Hon. Tunde Elegbede, and Hon. Olawale Sadare.