Oyo Governorship Hopeful Adelabu Denies Defection Rumors

A prominent governorship aspirant in Oyo State has firmly denied widespread rumours that he is planning to defect from the All Progressives Congress (APC) to the Social Democratic Party (SDP). Chief Adebayo Adelabu, a former Minister of Power, dismissed the reports as false, baseless, and a deliberate attempt to mislead the public and tarnish his political reputation.

In a statement issued on Tuesday, June 16, 2026, by his media aide, Femi Awogboro, Adelabu insisted he remains a committed member of the APC and has not contemplated, initiated, or authorized any move to join another political party. The statement argued that the speculation is particularly unfounded because the APC's gubernatorial primary process for the 2027 election has not yet been concluded, and no official result has been declared.

Awogboro described the rumour as a politically motivated fabrication, accusing its promoters of attempting to exploit Adelabu's name and growing popularity in the state to gain relevance. He called for a more issue-driven political culture in Oyo State, condemning what he termed the deliberate spread of falsehoods and propaganda.

The statement also pushed back against any...