Osun State Governor, Ademola Adeleke, has denied entering into any electoral agreement or political partnership with the African Democratic Congress (ADC) before, during or after the state’s governorship election.
Adeleke made the clarification in a statement issued on Tuesday, August 18, following comments by the ADC suggesting that the party worked with his Accord Party to prevent the All Progressives Congress (APC) from winning the August 15 poll.
The controversy followed remarks by the ADC’s National Publicity Secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi, who reportedly said the party collaborated with Accord during the election. According to reports, Abdullahi attributed the ADC’s relatively low showing at the polls to the arrangement, which he said was aimed at stopping the APC from returning to power in the state.
However, Adeleke rejected the suggestion, insisting that the ADC was not part of the political coalition that supported his campaign and eventual re-election.
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The governor attributed his victory to divine intervention and the support of Osun voters, thanking residents for backing him at the polls.
“The credit for our victory goes to God Almighty and the good people of Osun State for their overwhelming support and re-election,” Adeleke said.
The governor said it was necessary to put the record straight to prevent what he described as a distortion of the events leading to the election.
“For the sake of history, it is important to clarify that the ADC was never part of the rainbow coalition that canvassed, mobilised, and supported our campaign in the battle leading to last Saturday’s election,” he said.
The August 15 election was closely contested, with Adeleke of the Accord Party facing APC candidate Bola Oyebamiji and ADC candidate Najeem Salaam, among other candidates. Adeleke ultimately secured another term in office.
Before the election, Adeleke’s campaign had received support from several political actors and groups. The Osun State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), which did not field a candidate in the election, had earlier adopted Adeleke and directed its structures to support his re-election on the Accord platform.
The political landscape also witnessed significant movements between parties in the months leading to the election, with defections and endorsements shaping the contest between Accord, APC and ADC.
Adeleke nevertheless acknowledged the contributions of the political partners and stakeholders who supported his campaign, saying their efforts played an important role in securing victory.
“I commend all our political partners who sacrificed, worked tirelessly, and went all out to make Saturday a victory day for all Osun people. Their commitment and support were instrumental to our success,” he said.
The governor’s comments effectively draw a distinction between the groups that openly supported his Accord campaign and the ADC, whose leadership has claimed that its electoral strategy contributed to preventing an APC victory.
Adeleke also shifted attention from the election campaign to governance, promising to govern all residents of the state regardless of their political affiliations.
“Now that the election is over, I remain the Governor of all Osun people, irrespective of political affiliation, religion, or tribe. My commitment is to unite our people and continue working for the progress and prosperity of Osun State,” he added.
The development comes as political attention in Osun begins to shift from the August 15 election to the next phase of governance, with Adeleke expected to consolidate his administration following his re-election.
The dispute over whether the ADC played a role in Adeleke’s victory, however, adds another layer to the political calculations that shaped the closely watched Osun governorship contest.
