‘I Never Asked Nigerians to Reject APC’ — Adelabu Reacts to Viral Video

 

Former Minister of Power, Adebayo Adelabu, has denied calling on Nigerians to reject the All Progressives Congress (APC), describing a viral video containing the alleged remarks as misleading and taken out of context.

Adelabu’s media office said the video was an excerpt from a 2022 interview he granted while contesting the Oyo State governorship election on the platform of the Accord Party.

In a statement issued on Sunday, October 11, 2026, the media office alleged that the clip was being circulated to create the impression that Adelabu was opposed to the APC and President Bola Tinubu.

It urged the public to disregard the report, describing it as an attempt to undermine Adelabu’s relationship with the President and the party’s leadership.

According to the statement, Adelabu’s comments during the interview reflected his position that political parties had disappointed Nigerians and that voters should prioritise the credibility and character of individual candidates.

The media office maintained that the remarks were made in the context of the political circumstances of 2022 and did not amount to a call for Nigerians to reject the APC or oppose Tinubu’s presidency.

The clarification comes amid controversy surrounding the APC’s governorship nomination process in Oyo State, with Adelabu reportedly expressing dissatisfaction over the alleged failure to transparently release the primary election results and claims of a preferred aspirant being imposed.

However, his media office insisted that demanding fairness, transparency and internal democracy should not be interpreted as disloyalty to the party.

“His position has been consistent: loyalty does not preclude the demand for fairness, transparency and adherence to democratic principles,” the statement said.

The office further maintained that Adelabu had no intention of leaving the APC and that his political ambition was not a do-or-die affair.

It described his relationship with Tinubu as longstanding and founded on mutual respect and trust, adding that the relationship remained cordial.

The media office also challenged those circulating the video to release the full, unedited interview to allow the public to understand the remarks in their proper context.

It urged APC members, journalists and the general public to verify information before sharing it, warning that misleading reports could create unnecessary divisions within the party.