On Tuesday, 8th 2015, the former governor of Oyo State, Adebayo Alao-Akala announced his defection to APC from Labour Party, LP. His announcement was followed by merry by some of his followers as he was regarded as a big name for the APC which will benefit more follower from his calibre of person.
However, the Oyo State APC has debunked the news, denying that such move was recorded or ever took place at the All Progressive Congress on Tuesday.
In a statement on Sunday, the APC said, “the news was received with shock because APC is not aware that he (Alao-Akala) had joined the party”.
The party’s Director of Publicity, Olawale Sadare, described the news as very strange, adding that “we do not know Alao-Akala as far as Oyo APC is concerned”.
Sadare said: “He is not in APC, however if he wants to join APC he is welcome. Let him join from the ward level. That is how it is done.
“It is very strange to us. We are not aware of his political moves. Here in Oyo APC, we don’t know him. He should start from the ward level and progress from there.”
But the former governor said some people in the APC were jittery because of his entry into the party.
In response to the APC’s statement about his defection, Alao-Akala spoke through his Chief Press Secretary, Abraham Ojo saying, “Alao-Akala did not only embrace the APC in a more celebrated way, but directed all his followers to return to their local governments and wards to register.
“Whether or not they like it Alao-Akala is a big fish. May be they are jittery that he is coming on board. For him to have made a public declaration that he has joined the APC, he would have spoken with party leaders.
“They should go and confirm. They should not be playing politics of animosity. If somebody of Alao-Akala’s status should come and make a public declaration that he has joined the APC and the Director of Publicity or anyone else is saying the party doesn’t know him, then he must be acting out of ignorance.”
