Regardless tribunal verdict, I’m starting plans for 2023 election ― Adelabu

The governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Oyo State, Chief Adebayo Adelabu has described his 357,000 votes showing in the last election, as evidence of strength his candidacy and that of his party, against a coalition of parties.

This is as he noted that regardless of the outcome of his petition challenging his loss at the tribunal, he was set to begin planning for the 2023 electoral contest.

Adelabu aired this position in a message he personally signed and broadcast using the Facebook page, “Adelabu Penkelemesi Cares”, on Wednesday.

Though he described the election outcome as shocking and unfavourable, Adelabu said he was consoled by the fact that as a first-timer, he got the support of 357,000 strong genuine voters which was larger than what ushered in the last three successive governors.

Furthermore, he said he was buoyed by the fact that the APC still led the federal government while the National Executive of the party had assured of the needed support to ensure that the party reclaims the state come 2023.

Ahead 2023, Adelabu said he would begin a series of visits and meetings to intimate APC members and his supporters of plans going forward.

The statement read in parts, “Electoral losses, as read in history, have made great leaders come out stronger, better and more successful and never to depress or discourage them.

“I take solace in the persistence and tenacity of our 357,000 strong genuine voters (which is larger than what ushered in the last three successive governors) and kindness of history and posterity.

“The devil is in the details like they say,  as a first-timer, with 357,000 genuine votes, we remained the single strongest candidate in the 2019 Guber elections claimed to be displaced by the conspiracy or coalition of five other Guber candidates. This also gave out our party as the single strongest and most popular party in the last elections.

“While I believe the results came out the way it was destined, the adduced reasons notwithstanding, our party is  collectively convinced that the election was marred by various electoral irregularities and malpractices ranging from front-loading of votes to multiple voting cutting across same and multiple polling units, hence the petition submitted at the Tribunal presently being prosecuted and this is left for the Judges to determine.

“Notwithstanding the outcome of the Election petition tribunal, I’m personally of the opinion that we need not be stagnant in our electoral quest and planning for the next election should start in earnest. Our political structures across the state remain intact while our supporters remain undaunted. We intend to keep and maintain these structures and regularly reach out to our fans and supporters who till date are still left gapping wondering why the results came out the way it did.

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“We will be embarking on a “Thank you” visits to all our party members, stakeholders, supporters and fans across the length and breadth of our state to intimate them of our plan going forward.

“We are still thankful to God that our party still occupies the Federal Govt and the National Exco of our party has assured us of consistent and special support to enable us to bounce back being the only state in the South West now in opposition.

” I also want to let you know that I will soon reach out to you on specific plans, programs and activities in our camp and plead that you should not relent in your support for this cause and very soon, we will reach our destination. It is worthy of note that one or two lessons have also been learnt and all these will guide our actions and activities going forward.”