A former Deputy Governor of Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and governorship aspirant of the All Progressives Congress in Oyo State, Adebayo Adelabu, has denied dumping the APC for the Social Democratic Party (SDP).

Adelabu was APC’s governorship candidate in 2019 but lost the 2023 APC gubernatorial ticket to Senator Teslim Folarin.

Folarin, a senator representing Oyo Central Senatorial district, defeated Adelabu by polling 954 votes at the governorship primary election held at Obafemi Awolowo Stadium in Ibadan, the state capital on Friday.

Adelabu polled 327 votes to come second in the keenly contested election.

Reacting, he described the primaries as a charade, alleging that the delegates’ list for the governorship primaries was compromised.

However, the former CBN Deputy Governor, in a statement he personally signed and made available to newsmen on Sunday, said he has not defected to SDP after the APC governorship primary, saying he was still consulting on his next move.

Adelabu stated that he will contest the governorship election in the state in 2023.

He said: “My attention has also been drawn to my purported defection to Social Democratic Party after the just- concluded APC primary election.

“I’m still consulting widely with political associates, community opinion leaders, families and friends.

“I am categorically stating that I have not defected to any other party.

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“My final decision will be communicated to you all at the end of consultation in a matter of days.”

He added that he would contest the 2023 general election as a governorship candidate, adding that that was the reason he resigned from his position as CBN Deputy Governor in 2018.

According to him, no amount of intimidation, threat, or harassment can stop him from his passionate ambition of revolutionising the political, social, and economic landscape of the state.

Adelabu added: “All I can tell the whole world for now is that I am going to contest in the 2023 general elections as a governorship candidate, no matter what.

“This is the only reason I left my groovy career as a deputy governor of CBN in 2018.

“No amount of intimidation, threat, or harassment can stop me from my passionate ambition of revolutionising the political, social and economic landscape of Oyo state through the machinery of government.

“I hereby use this opportunity to plead with my supporters throughout the nooks and crannies of Oyo State to remain calm and be law-abiding.

“We shall, in the shortest time, inform you all of my next line of action.

“The provision of more abundant life for the great people of Oyo State is non-negotiable,” he stated.

The Star