APC Chieftain, Enilolobo, dismisses defection rumours to ADC

Stanley Ihedigbo

Prominent figure in the All Progressives Congress (APC) and leader, BATCO Mandate Movement Independent Campaign Group, Alhaji Abdullahi Ayinde Enilolobo, has dismissed claims of abandoning the party for the African Democratic Congress (ADC) as baseless and malicious.

In a statement made available to The Mirror, Alhaji Enilolobo affirmed that he remained a committed and loyal member of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

“At no time has it crossed my mind to renounce my membership of the APC, nor have I taken any step, directly or indirectly, that suggests such an intention. I have always been, and continue to be, a dedicated progressive democrat under the leadership of Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, President and Commander-in-Chief of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

“Over the years, I have served the APC and its legacy parties meritoriously in various capacities. These include: Lagos State Youth Leader, South West Youth Leader and Lagos State Organizing Secretary”, he explained.

He further said that he has also played an active role in the party’s campaign organizations across different election cycles, serving progressively as Director of Mobilization and in the Monitoring Directorates.

“My home constituency, Alimosho Federal Constituency, which comprises six local councils, remains the vote capital of the APC in Lagos State. By the grace of God and working hand-in-hand with other distinguished members of our chapter, I contributed significantly to making this a reality.

“The APC remains my political home. I am proud to have been one of its founding pillars in Lagos State in particular, and Nigeria in general. No political party possesses the ideological strength or internal cohesion to lure me away from the APC. Likewise, no individual has the capacity to make me abandon the party to which I have dedicated my life’s service.

“My role in the 2023 general elections is irrefutable, alongside leaders and members of our great party: under my leadership of the BATCO Mandate Movement Independent Campaign Group, we achieved One Hundred Thousand Man March, acknowledged as the best road show in Lagos State, a pan Nigeria poster deployment, radio jingles in major Nigerian languages, and the 25,000 man door to door and grand convocation in support of Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu presidential campaigns,” he assured.

According to him, it is also noteworthy that he was a national delegate to the APC presidential primary and the director of mobilization in the Tinubu Shettima Sanwo-Olu Hamzat Independent Campaign Council.

Despite the stoppage of our grand symposium organized to sell Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu to critical stakeholders by the powers that be, we continued undeterred in our campaigns in that election cycle.

“In recent times, detractors who did not lift a finger to campaign for Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu have sponsored serial but unproven allegations against me. I am not unaware that these fabrications stem from their desperation to pursue selfish interests. As the saying goes, fruitful trees attract the most stones. My political relevance has become their target, but let it be known: my loyalty to the APC and to Mr. President remains total, unwavering, and unalloyed.

“I continue to participate actively in all party activities, from the ward level upward, with particular emphasis on advocacy, encouraging Nigerians to take advantage of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC)’s ongoing Continuous Voters Registration (CVR) exercise.

“This open declaration has become necessary to dispel mischievous and ill-thought-out claims by detractors alleging that I have defected, or plan to defect, to the African Democratic Congress (ADC) alongside Ogbeni Rauf Adesoji Aregbesola. I state unequivocally that there is no iota of truth in this allegation,” he stressed.

The grassroots leader further stressed that he has said it before, and no one can sever the long-standing political father-and-son relationship he shares with Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu.