A former governorship candidate of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), Jimi Agbaje, has reacted to news of him joining the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
Speaking through his spokesperson, Modupe Ogunbayo, Agbaje described the rumour in a statement on Wednesday as “misinformation.”
The statement comes amid a viral WhatsApp message that surfaced during the week that the businessman and notable pharmacist had dumped his party, the PDP
“I’m fully back in APC to join our Southwest leaders as well as progressive family and friends in Lagos State,” the message read.
“The awalokan 2023 is a project that both young and old in all the nooks and crannies of the Southwest should be embraced. On this note, I sincerely join APC from the major opposition party (PDP) to add my strength.
“I believe It’s time to support and also to appreciate Senator Asiwaju Bola Ahmed TINUBU as next President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria in the forthcoming Presidential election on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC).”
Ogunbayo stated that Agbaje, who has been a member of the PDP since 2011, remains a resolute and loyal card-carrying member
She said: “It has never crossed the mind of Mr Olujimi Kolawole Agbaje, to leave the PDP where he is unobtrusively but assiduously collaborating with other party faithfuls to achieve party objectives especially, victory for the party in the 2023 elections,” the statement reads
“This stinking pit of a rumour that he has left the PDP for any other party is frivolous mischief and patently false. The general public is dearly enjoined to treat this misinformation with deserved disdain.“
Agbaje has contested the Lagos State governorship election 3 times and lost all. He was believed by many to stand a good chance in the 2019 election especially with the turmoil with the APC but many were shocked at the final result.
It is not the first time that rumours of Mr Agbaje’s defection would saturate the social media space.
In July, claims of his defection to the APC went viral online, but he would put out a tweet to dismiss it.
“Eyin ko lo kan o. Nigerians lokan. Jimi Agbaje – PDP,” (It’s not your turn, it’s Nigerians turn) he tweeted in Yoruba, subtly referencing Bola Tinubu’s popular speech earlier this year in Abeokuta, Ogun State.
Read also:
‘I Was Shocked to Hear That I Defected to APC’ – Jimi Agbaje
Jimi Agbaje Finally Opens up on Joining APC