Governor Ademola Adeleke of Osun State has dismissed speculation that his recent meeting with President Bola Tinubu was a prelude to his planned defection to the All Progressives Congress (APC).
The Imole Campaign Council, which coordinated Adeleke’s campaign during the August 15 governorship election, clarified that the governor’s visit to the President was a customary engagement following the conclusion of an off-cycle election.
In a statement released on Friday by the Chairman of its Media and Publicity Committee, Bamidele Salam, the council said Adeleke used the visit to show appreciation to Tinubu and discuss issues concerning the peace, security and development of Osun State.
The clarification followed reports and insinuations that Adeleke, who secured victory in the governorship election, was considering abandoning Accord Party for the ruling APC after meeting Tinubu at the Presidential Villa in Abuja on Thursday.
The council, however, insisted that no discussion about defection took place during the meeting.
“For the avoidance of doubt, the visit of Mr Governor and top members of his Campaign team had absolutely nothing to do with a plan to move from Accord to the All Progressives Congress as being insinuated in certain quarters,” the statement said.
It added, “We wish to state unequivocally that at no stage during the visit to Mr President was the issue of decamping to the APC discussed.”
According to the council, Adeleke had a responsibility to pay a courtesy visit to the President after emerging victorious in the recently concluded election, particularly given Tinubu’s earlier calls for security agencies and the electoral umpire to ensure a free and fair exercise.
The council said the meeting also provided an opportunity for both leaders to discuss how to maintain peace and stability in the state following what it described as a tense electoral contest.
Tinubu, while receiving Adeleke at the Presidential Villa, congratulated the governor on his victory but cautioned him against using the outcome of the election to victimise or stigmatise his opponents.
The president told Adeleke that his victory should be viewed as a democratic mandate rather than a conquest over his political rivals.
“Don’t stigmatise any of your opponents,” Tinubu told him, urging the governor to return to Osun and govern in a manner that promotes unity.
“You did not conquer anybody. You won an election. That is the essence of democracy,” the President said.
Tinubu further urged Adeleke not to make any individual a victim of the campaign, stressing that his administration should focus on building unity, peace and stability in the state.
He said Adeleke was in a “very unique position to make history” and advised him to use his position to strengthen democratic values and the rule of law.
The president also attributed Adeleke’s victory to the will of the people and divine providence, rather than the political calculations of individuals.
“Use me as an example. And I got here. God put me here. Where you are today, God put you there,” Tinubu said.
He commended Adeleke and his campaign team for their mobilisation efforts during the election and urged the governor to channel the momentum from the election into governance.
“All you’re doing now is progressive instinct. And you did a very good mobilisation with your team — very good job,” Tinubu said.
