ENUGU, Nigeria (VOICE OF NAIJA)- Osun State Governor Ademola Adeleke has denied reaching any agreement with the African Democratic Congress (ADC), to secure victory in last Saturday’s governorship election.
Adeleke said the ADC was not part of the political alliance that supported his campaign before, during or after the election, dismissing claims that the two parties worked together to defeat the All Progressives Congress, APC.
The governor’s position followed a claim by the ADC National Publicity Secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi, that the party collaborated with the Accord Party to prevent the APC from winning the election.
However, in a statement issued on Tuesday by his spokesperson, Olawale Rasheed, Adeleke said the claim did not reflect the political arrangements that produced his re-election.
Vanguard reports that the governor credited his victory to God and the people of Osun, while acknowledging the contribution of political partners who supported his campaign.
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“I commend political partners who went all out to make Saturday a victory day for all Osun people. But we must clarify for the sake of history that ADC was never part of the alliance,” Adeleke said.
He said the clarification was necessary to properly document the events surrounding the election and the political forces that backed his re-election bid.
Adeleke secured a second term in office after defeating the APC candidate, Bola Oyebamiji, in the keenly contested election.
The governor, who contested under the Accord Party, had previously emerged as a major figure in the political realignment that preceded the poll, with several opposition actors and groups openly opposing the APC’s bid to take control of the state.
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The ADC also participated in the election, with its candidate, Najeem Salaam, finishing third.
Adeleke said the conclusion of the election had now placed a broader responsibility on his administration to govern without partisan discrimination.
“Now that the election is over, I am a governor of all Osun people irrespective of political groups, religion or race,” he said.
The governor’s comments come amid continuing political manoeuvring among opposition parties following the Osun election, with parties assessing the outcome ahead of the 2027 general elections.