I am still in the governorship race, says Folarin

A governorship aspirant under the platform of the Oyo State chapter of All Progressives Congress (APC) for the 2023 gubernatorial elections, Chief Niyi Akintola, yesterday, dismissed the news that the national leadership of the party had asked the lawmaker representing Oyo Central, Senator Teslim Folarin, to step down for Chief Adebayo Adelabu.

Adelabu, a former Deputy Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), who is also contesting to become the standard-bearer of the party in the state, was the candidate of the party in the 2019 polls.

However, news broke yesterday that Folarin had been directed to return to the Senate and thereby paving way for Adelabu.

But reacting, Akintola, who spoke through his media aide, Mr. Mobolaji Oladepo, said: “The news is propaganda. If there is anything like that, Chief Akintola would have addressed a press conference. The news is the figment of the imagination of the writer. There is nothing of such. It is fake news and should be disregarded.”

Also, Folarin has said that he is still very active in the race to secure the governorship ticket of the party.

The Oyo Central senator, while reacting to the news report that he had been instructed to step down for Adelabu, said: “The news is a sponsored fake news aimed at misleading the people of Oyo State, members of the great party (APC) and my supporters across the length and breadth of the state.

“I want to disclaim that there is no instruction handed down to me by any person, group of persons or the highest hierarchy of the party.

“I am actively in the race and will undoubtedly get the majority votes to become Oyo APC governorship flag-bearer.

“I have the backing of a majority of critical stakeholders of the party in Oyo State. My official governorship declaration is a pointer to the fact that I am in the best position to win the ticket.”