Oyo APC Primaries: Don’t Destroy Your Political Investments, Adelabu Warns Defection Plotters

Frontline gubernatorial aspirant and chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Oyo State, Chief Adebayo Adelabu, has strongly condemned brewing defection plots within the state chapter, describing any exit from the party at this critical junction as a major political miscalculation.

As tension mounts over the outcome of the party’s primary elections, Adelabu warned aggrieved stakeholders and party faithful that abandoning the progressive platform over unverified results and rumoured consensus arrangements would only serve the interests of political opponents.

In a strong appeal aimed at restoring order across the state’s political landscape, Adelabu urged members to look beyond current anxieties and await the definitive verdict from the party’s National Headquarters in Abuja. He stressed that leaving the party would destroy years of collective sacrifice and investment made by loyal members who built the APC into a formidable force in Oyo State.

The guber hopeful expressed deep concern over reports that some party members, destabilized by the circulation of purported candidate lists on social media, have started exploring options in rival political parties. He stated unequivocally that defection is a short-sighted response that offers no real solution to internal friction, but rather weakens the party’s front ahead of the general elections.

Invoking the painful memories of previous political dispensations, Adelabu urged the Oyo APC family to look back at the costly lessons of the 2019 and 2023 electoral cycles. He reminded stakeholders that internal divisions, mutual distrust, and hasty defections were the ultimate undoing of the party in past polls. He warned that repeating these historical blunders would jeopardize the party’s bright prospects in the upcoming federal and state legislative elections.

He challenged party loyalists to show maturity and patience, asserting that holding the line ahead of the official announcement from the National Leadership is a badge of loyalty, not a sign of weakness. According to him, the National Working Committee possesses the required institutional wisdom and capacity to thoroughly review the primary process, correct anomalies, and ensure equity and fairness for all aspirants.

Adelabu further threw a heavy punch at individuals fabricating fake endorsements and “predetermined” lists, accusing them of deliberately orchestrating confusion to manipulate public perception and derail ongoing consultations. He reiterated that the National Headquarters has explicitly barred any state-level individual or committee from announcing results, rendering all circulated lists completely invalid.

Reaffirming his commitment to the party’s ultimate goal of reclaiming the Agodi Government House, Adelabu implored all support groups, youth wings, women organizations, and fellow aspirants to exercise strict restraint in their public utterances. He maintained that party unity must override individual ambitions, reassuring his followers that all valid grievances are being systematically channeled through appropriate party organs for a stronger, more united outing at the polls.