Legal icon and Oke-ogun born former Commissioner for Budget and Economic Planning, Asiwaju Adeniyi Farinto, has not joined the All Progressives Congress, APC, his loyalists across the state have declared.
The clarification comes against the backdrop of a widely circulated video on different WhatsApp groups in which an Ibadan Chief, Engr. Dotun Sanusi, claimed that the Olive Chamber is now with the APC Candidate, Senator Sharafadeen Alli.
In a statement made available to westernmirror.com.ng on Friday evening in Ibadan, the loyalists maintained that their leader, Asiwaju Farinto, has not defected to the APC and is neither harboring such contemplation while reaffirming his commitment to Governor Seyi Makinde.
They noted that a mere courtesy visit by Chief Sanusi should not have been wrongly presented as a defection for political reason.
“Asiwaju Farinto hasn’t joined APC, he’s not contemplating such move and he remains committed to Makinde,” the loyalists declared.
They further described the claim as a desperate attempt by the APC to score cheap political points to augment its widespread rejection by the people ahead of the 2027 general elections.
“Barr. Farinto is a reputable political leader with a high pedigree and political stature that cannot be reduced to a subject of rumour and propaganda,” the loyalists stated.
“His commitment to the Omituntun 2.0 agenda of Governor Seyi Makinde remains unshaken. He is fully with Makinde and will continue to contribute his quota to the sustainable development of Oyo State beyond 2027.”
The group urged members of the public, especially supporters of the Allied Peoples’ Movement (APM), to disregard the video and any insinuation that their principal has switched party allegiance.
They added that Asiwaju Farinto remains a committed member of the APM and a loyal supporter of Governor Makinde’s administration.
“The claim is a lie and a joke taken too far. What simply took place was a friendly visit by Chief Dotun Sanusi, who paid a courtesy call on our leader at his Olive Chambers Office.
“Barr Farinto has been in the practice of mostly hosting his friends, associates and loyalists at the Law Office. That should not have been termed as a defection, because Barr Farinto knows how to separate his law business from his politics.
“Turning the harmless visit to a defection party was not Farinto’s doing; and members of the public must read between the lines and note that he didn’t make any comment as the show went on.
“For the avoidance of doubt, Asiwaju Farinto, as the leader of our great party in Oke Ogun and Iwajowa Local Government saw to the defection of hundreds of residents from APC, Accord and other parties to the APM on Thursday, October 8, 2026.
“An APC House of Assembly aspirant, Wasiu Shittu Olorunsetemi, among others led defectors to APM and it was with the knowledge of Barr. Farinto. So, how would anyone claim that the leader, who welcomed defectors with all his political children in attendance, has gone to APC, where he harvested hundreds of people from?
“As the saying goes that facts are sacred, we the political loyalists and followers of Asiwaju Farinto know that our leader has not joined the APC and we call on all teeming members of APM and lovers of our party to refrain from allowing themselves to be triggered into picking needless fights or arguments over the matter.”