Adebayo Adelabu, Minister of Power, has stated that his return to the All Progressives Congress, APC, from the Accord Party is not about succeeding Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde in 2027.
Adelabu announced this on Friday during his official return to the APC at the party secretariat in Oke-Ado, Ibadan.
According to the News Agency of Nigeria, Adelabu resigned the APC in May 2022 to join the Accord Party after failing to clinch the party’s governorship nomination.
While speaking to party members at the occasion, the minister stated that he and those who had left the party with him had formally returned to the APC in order to strengthen the party.
He explained that they had previously quit the party on principle rather than because of disagreements with the APC in the state or with party members.
“I returned not because of 2027 governorship ambition or to take over the party, but because I believe this is a party that brought President Bola Tinubu to power, and we need to support him to deliver on his electoral promises.
“This is not time for politics; it is time for governance, and Tinubu needs our support for him to succeed and deliver on his Renewed Hope Agenda.
“I have come back to the party not to take over the party and not to dissolve executives; we have come to the party to extend hands of fellowship and reconciliation.
“We are assuring you that we are back for cooperation and collaboration for us to build a strong party so that the party will take over power in the state at the end of the day in 2027,” Adelabu said.
In his remarks, APC chairman in the state, Isaac Omodewu, who was represented by the party’s secretary, Alhaji Tajudeen Olanike, said that the party is open for reconciliation and ready to listen to all aggrieved members to build a stronger party.
Also speaking, a former deputy governor, Moses Adeyemo, said that the party needs peace and unity of all members for progress.