Adeleke’s Camp Dismisses APC Defection Rumours After Tinubu Visit

The Imole Campaign Council has dismissed reports 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’s activities during the August 15 Osun governorship election, described the governor’s visit to Tinubu as customary and part of the political tradition following off-cycle elections in Nigeria.

In a statement issued on Friday by the Chairman of its Media and Publicity Committee, Bamidele Salam, the council said the meeting had nothing to do with any plan by Adeleke to join the ruling 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 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 added that Tinubu’s pre-election speeches and statements had emphasised the need for the electoral umpire and security agencies to ensure 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 speculation in some quarters that Adeleke’s visit to the President indicated that he was considering dumping the Accord Party for the APC.

The Imole Campaign Council, however, described the reports 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 election.

Adeleke visited Tinubu at the Presidential Villa in Abuja on Thursday, days after securing re-election in the Osun State governorship election.

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

The meeting marked Adeleke’s first known engagement with Tinubu since his victory in the August 15 governorship poll, in which he defeated the APC candidate, Bola Oyebamiji, to secure a second term.

Tinubu had earlier personally called to congratulate Adeleke on his victory, describing the outcome as “a fitting assurance that democracy will continue to flourish in our country.”

The election was keenly contested and characterised by intense political activity, allegations of violence and disputes between rival camps.

The post-election period has consequently brought renewed attention to reconciliation, political stability and cooperation between the state government and the federal government.