Osun State Governor, Ademola Adeleke, has clarified that there is no agreement between him and the All Progressives Congress (APC) to share legislative or local government positions in the state. This statement was made through his spokesperson, Olawale Rasheed, on Wednesday. The clarification was necessary due to social media reports suggesting a deal with the Presidency for the 2027 general elections, which included sharing of political positions.
According to the reports, local government positions, Senate, House of Representatives, and state House of Assembly seats were allegedly shared between the Osun Accord and the state APC. However, Governor Adeleke reaffirmed his commitment to President Bola Tinubu’s re-election and stated that negotiations to resolve the local government crisis aimed to protect the interests of both APC chairmen and elected Peoples Democratic Party chairmen and councillors.
Adeleke described the reports of a position-sharing arrangement as “mere fabrication and fake news.” He emphasized that as the governor of all Osun indigenes and residents, his administration is working to resolve the local government matter by ensuring that all interests are protected and cared for. The governor stressed that restoring grassroots governance is a condition for a successful campaign ahead of the 2027 elections.
The governor assured that the local government crisis would be resolved before the end of the year, emphasizing that he had not entered into any agreement to share legislative seats with the Osun APC. He stated that what unites the coalition partners is only the presidential election, and partners agreed to join hands to ensure President Tinubu is re-elected. Adeleke will work and campaign for Accord candidates for Senate, House of Representatives, and the state House of Assembly.
On Thursday, Governor Adeleke insisted that the ‘Rainbow Coalition’ championed by the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, to garner votes for Tinubu would not cause confusion among Osun voters in the 2027 general elections. He described the coalition as only being for the presidential election, while the National and State Assembly elections would be for the Accord.
During the inauguration of the campaign committee for the re-election of the Osun West Senatorial candidate of the Accord, Lere Oyewumi, Adeleke, represented by the Deputy Governor, Kola Adewusi, praised Oyewumi as a quality representative with enviable records of service. Oyewumi attributed the growing acceptability of Accord in Osun to Adeleke’s leadership and performance, and he promised more infrastructural and social development for the district.
The Director-General of the campaign committee, Adesoye Oyetunde, highlighted Oyewumi’s achievements, including the construction of roads, classrooms, and healthcare interventions in the senatorial district. Governor Adeleke was appointed by Tinubu as campaign coordinator for the presidential campaign in Osun, and he inaugurated a 344-member campaign council in the state, despite some prominent APC leaders being absent.
Key points
- Governor Adeleke denies agreement with APC to share legislative seats.
- The governor emphasizes that the coalition with APC is only for the presidential election.
- Adeleke assures that the local government crisis will be resolved before the end of the year.
