The Imole Campaign Council, the campaign organisation of Osun State Governor Ademola Adeleke, has dismissed speculation that Mr Adeleke plans to defect from the Accord Party to the All Progressives Congress (APC) following his recent meeting with President Bola Tinubu.
The campaign council, in a statement signed by its Chairman, Media and Publicity Committee, Bamidele Salam, on Friday, said Mr Adeleke’s visit to the president was part of the political tradition that follows the conclusion of off-cycle governorship elections.
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PREMIUM TIMES reported Mr Adeleke’s visit to the Presidential Villa in Abuja on Thursday, where he presented his certificate of return to Mr Tinubu and held a closed-door meeting with the president.
Mr Adeleke was declared winner of the 15 August Osun State governorship election by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), defeating his closest challenger, Bola Oyebamiji of the APC, to secure a second term in office.
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INEC subsequently presented certificates of return to Mr Adeleke and his deputy on Wednesday, formally confirming their victory i
According to the campaign council, the governor’s visit to Mr Tinubu should not be interpreted as an indication that he intends to join the ruling APC.
“The Imole Campaign Council wishes to state that the visit by Osun State Governor, Ademola Jackson Nurudeen Adelek,e to His Excellency President Bola Ahmed Tinubu yesterday is in line with customs and political tradition at the conclusion ofoff-cyclee elections in Nigeria,” Mr Salam said.
The council said Mr Adeleke, having emerged victorious in the election, had a responsibility to show respect and appreciation to the president, particularly given the president’s position as Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces.
It also noted that Mr Tinubu had, during the period leading to the election, repeatedly called on the electoral umpire and security agencies to ensure that the election was free and fair.
Mr Salam said the meeting also provided an opportunity for Mr Tinubu and Mr Adeleke to discuss issues concerning the peace, security and development of Osun State after a tense electoral contest.
“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 thetensed election,” he said.
‘No discussion about defection’
The campaign council was particularly emphatic in rejecting reports and speculation that the meeting was connected to a possible defection by Mr Adeleke from the Accord Party to the APC.
“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 said the issue of Mr Adeleke joining the APC did not arise during the meeting.
“We wish to state unequivocally that at no stage during the visit to Mr President was the issue of decamping to the APC discussed,” Mr Salam said.
The statement sought to reassure supporters of the governor that his political allegiance remained unchanged despite his meeting with the president.
The governor’s visit had attracted attention because it came only days after he secured re-election and amid intense political realignments ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Those who accompanied him included the Director-General of the Adeleke Campaign Council, Lere Oyewumi; a member of the council, Sunday Bisi; his Chief of Staff, Kazeem Akinleye; and Mr Salam, who represents Ede North/Ede South/Egbedore/Ejigbo Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives.
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