Governor Ademola Adeleke of Osun state has denied reports that he reached an agreement with the All Progressives Congress (APC) to share legislative and local government positions in the state ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Adeleke clarified that his political alliance with the APC is limited to securing the re-election of President Bola Tinubu in 2027.
The governor made the clarification in a statement signed by his spokesperson, Olawale Rasheed, and obtained in Osogbo on Wednesday.
Politics Nigeria reports that the statement followed reports circulating on social media alleging that Adeleke’s relationship with the Presidency included an arrangement to share local government positions, Senate seats, House of Representatives seats and State House of Assembly seats between the Accord Party and the Osun APC.
However, Adeleke dismissed the claims as “mere fabrication and fake news.”
He explained that ongoing negotiations to resolve the local government crisis in Osun were aimed at protecting the interests of APC chairmen and elected Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) chairmen and councillors.
“As the governor of all Osun indigenes and residents, we are working to resolve the local government matter by ensuring that all interests are protected and cared for,” the statement read.
The governor added that stakeholders had agreed that restoring grassroots governance was necessary for a successful campaign ahead of the 2027 elections.
He also expressed confidence that the local government crisis would be resolved before the end of the year.
Adeleke maintained that his alliance with the APC did not extend to legislative elections, stressing that candidates of the Accord Party would contest those positions independently.
“As I said while inaugurating the Presidential Campaign Council, the coalition is targeted at the presidential election. Partners agreed to join hands to ensure our dear President is re-elected. All other legislative positions are open for competition,” he said.
The governor added that he would campaign for Accord Party candidates contesting for seats in the Senate, House of Representatives and Osun State House of Assembly.
“I urge all political parties to campaign for their candidates as I will do for Accord candidates. We have no deal on the National Assembly and the State Assembly elections. All our candidates will face the electorate, who have the final say,” he stated.
Adeleke, who won his re-election on the Accord Party platform, was recently appointed a coordinator of Tinubu’s presidential campaign in Osun State.
His emergence as a coordinator followed the inauguration of a 344-member presidential campaign council tasked with leading the president’s re-election campaign in the state.
The inauguration was attended by several prominent APC leaders, including former Osun State Governor, Chief Bisi Akande, who led other party chieftains to the event.
Other APC leaders present included the party’s National Secretary, Senator Ajibola Basiru; former National Secretary, Senator Iyiola Omisore; former deputy governors Titi Laoye-Ponle and Sooko Lekan Adewoyin; Senator Babajide Omoworare; and Chief Shuaib Oyedokun.
Also in attendance were Osun Central Senatorial Leader of the APC, Adeoye Adelakun; former members of the House of Representatives, Ajibola Famurewa and Bukola Oyewo; former Speaker of the Osun State House of Assembly, Wale Afolabi; and former Registrar of the National Business and Technical Examinations Board, Professor Olu Aina.
However, some prominent APC leaders in the state stayed away from the inauguration.
On October 14, Adeleke declared his support for Tinubu’s re-election, arguing that four years was insufficient for the president’s reforms to yield the desired results.
Speaking at the inauguration of the APC Presidential Campaign Council at the State House Banquet Hall, Presidential Villa, Abuja, the governor urged Nigerians to give Tinubu more time.
“We must give our father, the President of this nation, time for his reform to work. It’s not easy. Four years is not enough,” he said.
He added that he had joined the campaign to support the president’s re-election, expressing confidence in Tinubu’s chances in 2027.
“Nobody can stop this movement. We’re going to sing, we’re going to dance all the way back to Aso Rock,” Adeleke said.