Adeleke Denies APC Deal to Share Osun Assembly Seats

The governor says his coalition with the APC is limited to President Bola Tinubu’s re-election, insisting that Accord candidates will contest legislative positions independently in 2027

Osun State Governor, Ademola Adeleke, has denied entering into any agreement with the All Progressives Congress (APC) to share legislative and local government positions ahead of the 2027 general elections, insisting that his political alliance with the ruling party is limited to President Bola Tinubu’s re-election.

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Adeleke made the clarification in a statement issued on Wednesday by his spokesperson, Olawale Rasheed, following social media reports alleging that an agreement involving the Presidency had divided local government positions, Senate seats, House of Representatives seats and state House of Assembly constituencies between the Osun Accord and the APC.

The governor dismissed the reports as “mere fabrication and fake news”, maintaining that negotiations over the prolonged local government crisis were intended to protect the interests of all political stakeholders rather than facilitate a sharing arrangement.

According to him, discussions aimed at restoring grassroots administration in the state involve protecting the interests of APC local government chairmen as well as 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 said.

Adeleke added that stakeholders recognised the restoration of local government administration as essential to the success of the political coalition ahead of the next presidential election.

He assured residents that the crisis would be resolved before the end of the year, while stressing that no agreement had been reached to share National Assembly or state Assembly positions with the APC.

The governor explained that the coalition was established specifically to secure another presidential victory for Tinubu, leaving other elective positions open to competition among political parties.

“What unites the coalition partners is only the presidential election,” he said.

“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.”

Adeleke further declared that he would campaign for Accord candidates contesting Senate, House of Representatives and state Assembly seats, urging other political parties to support their own candidates.

“All other legislative positions are open for competition. I will work and campaign for Accord candidates for Senate, House of Representatives and the state House of Assembly,” he stated.

The governor reiterated the position on Thursday while speaking at the inauguration of the campaign committee for the re-election of Osun West Senatorial District representative, Lere Oyewumi, in Ede.

Represented by his deputy, Kola Adewusi, Adeleke dismissed concerns that the so-called Rainbow Coalition, associated with Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, could confuse voters in the state.

He clarified that Osun voters were expected to support the APC in the presidential election while voting for Accord candidates in the National Assembly and state Assembly contests.

“On the rumour going around in town about ‘Rainbow Coalition,’ don’t let that give us any headache. Let me state again that we are only going to vote for the All Progressives Congress in the presidential election only.

“The National and State Assembly elections will be for the Accord. There should be no confusion among the voters,” he said.

Adeleke also urged members of Oyewumi’s campaign committee to demonstrate total commitment to securing victory for the senator, insisting that loyalty to the party’s campaign should be absolute.

He described Oyewumi, who serves as Deputy Minority Leader in the Senate, as an effective representative whose record of service had strengthened his prospects for re-election.

The senator, in his remarks, attributed Accord’s growing acceptance in Osun to Adeleke’s leadership, expressing confidence that the governor’s popularity would benefit other candidates of the party.

Oyewumi said his experience in the Senate over the past three and a half years had better prepared him for another term, promising increased infrastructure and social development across Osun West.

He pledged improvements in roads, schools, healthcare facilities, access to clean water and solar-powered street lighting.

Also speaking, the Director-General of the campaign committee, Adesoye Oyetunde, highlighted projects he attributed to the senator, claiming that roads had been tarred in eight of the district’s 10 local government areas, while construction had been flagged off in the remaining two.

Oyetunde also said Oyewumi had supported classroom construction, healthcare interventions and the provision of agricultural inputs across the district.

The latest clarification comes after Adeleke’s appointment as coordinator of Tinubu’s 2027 presidential campaign in Osun and the inauguration of a 344-member campaign council.

The inauguration, however, exposed divisions or differences in participation among prominent APC figures, several of whom were absent from the event.

Those missing included former Osun governor Adegboyega Oyetola, the APC’s governorship candidate, Bola Oyebamiji, and House of Representatives member Oluwole Oke.

Former governor Bisi Akande attended the event alongside APC National Secretary Ajibola Basiru, former party National Secretary Iyiola Omisore and other party chieftains.

Other prominent attendees included former deputy governors Titi Laoye-Ponle and Lekan Adewoyin, Babajide Omoworare and former House of Representatives members Ajibola Famurewa and Bukola Oyewo.

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Adeleke’s position indicates that, despite the planned cooperation between the APC and its coalition partners over the presidential contest, Accord intends to maintain its independent political structure and field candidates for legislative elections in Osun in 2027.