Former Minister of Power, Adebayo Adelabu, has distanced himself from the defection of his former aide, Ajiboye Akande Sangogade, and several supporters from the APC to the Allied Peoples Movement ahead of the 2027 elections.
Adelabu made the clarification on Tuesday, September 22, 2026, following Akande’s appearance at a political rally in Ibadan on Monday, where the former aide formally joined the APM alongside supporters of his political movement.
In a statement issued through his media office in Ibadan, Adelabu stressed that Akande no longer serves as his Personal Assistant and has no current official, political or representational relationship with him.
The former Minister explained that his working relationship with Akande ended after differences emerged over their political alignments, particularly when Akande chose to pursue a political path different from his.
The clarification came less than 24 hours after the Boye Nation/JAF Movement Mega Concert at the Lekan Salami Stadium, Adamasingba, Ibadan, which doubled as a political mobilisation event for the APM.
Reports from the event said Akande, popularly known as Boye Nation, led hundreds of supporters into the APM. Other reports described the number of supporters involved as running into thousands, although the precise size of the defection has varied across reports.
Akande had previously worked as Adelabu’s Personal Assistant and has been associated with his political structure. However, the former Minister has now made it clear that the former aide’s decision to join the APM should not be interpreted as an indication that he has also left the APC.
“His defection, rally, statements and political activities are entirely personal to him and should not be attributed to me,” Adelabu said, stressing that Akande could no longer speak for or represent him.
The former Minister further reaffirmed his membership of the APC, putting to rest, at least for now, speculation that the development in Ibadan represented a broader movement involving him.
“I remain a member of the APC and have no intention of leaving the Party,” Adelabu said.
His latest statement is consistent with an earlier clarification issued in July after reports circulated that he was considering leaving the APC for the APM. At the time, Adelabu rejected the reports and said he remained committed to the ruling Party. The July reports had also linked the speculation to alleged discussions involving Akande.
The latest clarification, however, goes further by explicitly separating Akande’s political activities from Adelabu’s own political position.
Adelabu also addressed the disagreement that followed the APC’s nomination process in Oyo State. He said his criticism of aspects of the governorship nomination process should not be interpreted as an intention to abandon the Party.
According to him, his concerns are centred on transparency, proper documentation and legitimacy in the nomination process rather than a desire to leave the APC.
He maintained that his continued support for President Bola Tinubu was based not only on their political relationship but also on his stated belief in due process and the legitimacy of the President’s emergence through the APC’s primary process.
The former Minister said he wanted similar principles applied to the Oyo State governorship nomination process.
Adelabu has previously raised concerns about the manner in which the APC’s 2027 nomination exercises were conducted. In August, he said he would not pursue further legal action over the process, describing his decision as one aimed at preserving party cohesion ahead of the 2027 elections. He nevertheless called for the publication of properly documented and verifiable results.
His position has therefore been that disagreement with the Party’s nomination process does not automatically translate into defection from the APC.
“Let the results of the exercise be properly released, supported by the relevant signed documents and other verifiable evidence,” Adelabu said in his latest statement.
He also played down the personal stakes attached to his governorship ambition, saying his desire to become Governor of Oyo State had never been a matter of life and death.
“My governorship ambition has never been a do-or-die affair. My interest has always been about the opportunity to serve Oyo,” he said.
Adelabu added that he remained engaged in private-sector activities after leaving public office, listing real estate, hospitality, farming and financial securities among his areas of involvement.
He argued that his continued economic activities meant he did not need to move from one political party to another simply to maintain political relevance.
“I therefore have no need to jump from one political party to another simply to remain relevant,” he said.
The former Minister consequently insisted that he had neither defected from the APC nor authorised anyone to defect on his behalf.
The development adds another layer to the political realignment already taking place in Oyo State ahead of the 2027 governorship election.
Akande’s movement into the APM came during an event attended by Governor Seyi Makinde, who is the APM’s presidential candidate, alongside other Party figures. The event also featured political mobilisation around the APM’s candidates ahead of the 2027 elections.
Akande himself has also been reported as saying that his decision to join the APM was independent of Adelabu and was based on his own political choice.
For Adelabu, however, Tuesday’s statement was aimed at drawing a clear line between his political position and that of his former aide.
He reiterated that he remains a member of the APC and that Akande’s political activities are his personal decision.
“The political activities of Akande are his personal decision and have no connection whatsoever with me,” Adelabu stated.
The clarification means that, despite the movement of a former close aide and supporters into the APM, Adelabu’s publicly stated position remains that he is staying within the APC as the 2027 political season in Oyo State gathers momentum.