Adeleke’s Camp Dismisses APC Defection Rumours After Tinubu Visit | Sahara Reporters

It said Tinubu’s pre-election speeches and statements had emphasised the need for the electoral umpire and security agencies to allow a free and fair election in Osun State.

The Imole Campaign Council has dismissed reports suggesting that Osun State Governor, Ademola Adeleke, is planning to defect from the Accord Party to the All Progressives Congress (APC) following his meeting with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

The campaign council which coordinated Adeleke campaign activities in the August 15 governorship election described Adeleke’s visit to Tinubu as customary and part of the political tradition following off-cycle elections in Nigeria.

A statement issued on Friday by Bamidele Salam, Chairman, Media and Publicity Committee of the Imole Campaign Council, said the visit had nothing to do with any plan by the governor to join the APC.

“The Imole Campaign Council wishes to state that the visit by Osun State Governor, Ademola Jackson Nurudeen Adeleke to His Excellency President Bola Ahmed Tinubu yesterday is in line with customs and political tradition at the conclusion of off cycle elections in Nigeria,” the statement said.

The council said Adeleke, having emerged victorious in the recently concluded Osun governorship election, had a responsibility to show respect and appreciation to the office of the President and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces.

It said Tinubu’s pre-election speeches and statements had emphasised the need for the electoral umpire and security agencies to allow a free and fair election in Osun State.

“The visit also afforded Mr. President as the father of the Nation and the Osun State Governor a platform to discuss issues pertaining to peace, security and progress of Osun State after the tensed election,” it said.

The clarification followed insinuations in some quarters that Adeleke’s visit to the President was an indication that he was considering dumping the Accord Party for the ruling APC.

However, the Imole Campaign Council described the speculation as unfounded, insisting that the issue of defection did not arise 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.

The council 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.”

The campaign council also thanked Tinubu for granting Adeleke and members of his campaign team the opportunity to meet with him.

It assured Adeleke’s supporters that the governor remained committed to governing Osun State and serving residents who supported him during the recently concluded election.

Governor Adeleke on Thursday visited President Tinubu at the Presidential Villa in Abuja, days after clinching re-election in the state’s governorship poll.

Adeleke was accompanied to the Villa by National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu.

The visit marked Adeleke’s first known engagement with Tinubu since his victory in last Saturday’s Osun governorship election, where he secured a second term.

It also came days after Tinubu personally called to congratulate the governor on his win, describing the outcome as “a fitting assurance that democracy will continue to flourish in our country.”

Tinubu’s congratulatory message followed a keenly contested race in which Adeleke, the Accord Party candidate, faced a strong challenge from the APC’s Bola Oyebamiji.

The election was marked by intense political activity, allegations of violence, and disputes among rival camps, making post-election reconciliation a major talking point since the result was declared.